SLAC’s campus at sunset looking southeast. The Stanford Dish and Interstate 280 in the distance. (Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

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SLAC’s research yard in the foreground, with the LINAC stretching 2 miles to the west, and SLAC’s campus on the right. (Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

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Aerial view of SLAC’s  campus with the LINAC in the foreground leading into the campus. The interstate 280 passes over the LINAC. Stanford campus and Hoover tower can be seen in the distance. (Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

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Aerial view of SSRL (Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource) with SLAC’s campus in the background. (Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

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View of SLAC’s Quad with 600+ employees gathering for a group photo with the Science and User Support Building (left) and Arillaga Science Center (right) in the background (Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

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Bold People
Visionary Science
Real Impact

We explore how the universe works at the biggest, smallest and fastest scales and invent powerful tools used by scientists around the globe. Our research helps solve real-world problems and advances the interests of the nation.

Our story Our people

Visionary Science

Explore our frontier research

X-ray & ultrafast science

Revealing nature’s fastest processes with X-rays, lasers and electrons

Physics of the universe

Studying the particles and forces that knit the cosmos together
 

Advanced accelerators

Building smaller, faster, more powerful accelerators for all
 

Science of life

Understanding the machinery of life at its most basic level
 

New technologies

Inventing new tools for science and society
 

Energy sciences

Finding clean, sustainable solutions for the world’s energy challenges

WHERE RESEARCH HAPPENS

Facilities & centers

At our large-scale facilities and specialized centers, scientists take advantage of powerful tools and unique expertise and collaborate with each other across a wide range of disciplines. Working together is what makes science tick.

Scientific facilities Joint institutes & centers

MEET OUR TEAMS

SLAC people

To achieve our ambitious goals and keep SLAC a great place to work, the lab needs a creative, diverse and united workforce – people with a wide variety of experiences, ideas, skills and backgrounds.

LATEST UPDATES

SLAC news center

Press release

After decades of effort and help from SLAC's X-ray laser, scientists have finally seen the process by which nature creates the oxygen we breathe.

Photosystem II
News Feature

They’ll work on experiments searching for dark matter and physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics to push our understanding of what makes...

Kelly Stifter and Julia Gonski.
News Feature

The results should further our understanding of similar reactions with vital roles in chemistry, such as the production of vitamin D in our bodies.

UED transition state
News Feature

The results offer important implications for astrophysics and nuclear fusion research.

NIF experiment
News Feature

They’ll work on experiments searching for dark matter and physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics to push our understanding of what makes...

Kelly Stifter and Julia Gonski.
News Feature

The results should further our understanding of similar reactions with vital roles in chemistry, such as the production of vitamin D in our bodies.

UED transition state
News Feature

The results offer important implications for astrophysics and nuclear fusion research.

NIF experiment
News Feature

A low-cost, recyclable powder can kill thousands of waterborne bacteria per second when exposed to sunlight. Stanford and SLAC scientists say the ultrafast disinfectant...

Four cups of water arranged in a cycle, illustrating a decontamination cycle.
News Feature

The first pair of towers are now at the Ontario facility, where they'll further the hunt for dark matter particles.

SuperCDMS tower
News Feature

Just because matter is visible doesn’t mean it’s easy to see.

Illustration of Earth and galaxies with icons representing telescopes.
SLAC EVENTS

What’s happening

SLAC hosts a range of exciting events to raise awareness, inform, educate and connect with sitewide staff, the Stanford and local communities and the general public.

Event attendees listen to a science lecture

SLAC has a talented and dedicated staff with an extremely bright future, one that will help solve some of the greatest scientific challenges facing the world today.”

Chi-Chang Kao Former Lab Director Chi-Chang Kao, Former SLAC Lab Director.
About SLAC video still frame
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SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is a Department of Energy national lab run by Stanford in the heart of Silicon Valley. We invent scientific tools to explore the universe at its biggest, its smallest and its fastest. (Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)
DIG DEEPER

Explore SLAC

PUBLIC TOURS

Take a tour of SLAC

SLAC Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) accelerator tunnel.
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Ghost imaging illustration