October 1, 2018

Slideshow: 2018 SSRL/LCLS Users’ Meeting

The annual conference for scientists who conduct research at SLAC’s light sources engaged about 470 researchers in talks, workshops and discussions.

By Dawn Harmer and Ali Sundermier

About 470 researchers gathered at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Sept. 25-28 to attend talks and poster sessions, participate in workshops and engage in discussions involving the lab’s X-ray light sources.

The events were part of the SSRL/LCLS Annual Users' Meeting – which invites researchers who conduct experiments at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) and Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) to learn more about current and future capabilities as well as the latest scientific research at these facilities – and the 6th High-Power Laser Workshop, where scientists discussed research enabled by the Matter in Extreme Conditions instrument at LCLS.

As DOE Office of Science user facilities, SSRL and LCLS are open to scientists around the world for experiments that use extremely bright X-rays to probe matter and processes, shedding light on everything from battery materials to the interiors of planets and stars.

The LCLS Young Investigator Award, William E. and Diane M. Spicer Young Investigator Award, Melvin P. Klein Scientific Development Award and Farrel W. Lytle Award were presented at the meeting. Also during the meeting, about 60 people attended the Falling Walls Lab, where scientists had the opportunity to share their research, business plans or social initiatives in 3-minute pitches, competing for a chance to present at the Falling Walls Finale taking place in Berlin in November.

The 2018 meeting organizers were Arianna Gleason of Stanford, vice chair of the LCLS Users’ Executive Committee; Graham George of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, vice chair of the SSRL Users’ Executive Committee; and SLAC scientists Sergio Carbajo and Kevin Stone.

2018 Users’ Meeting

Users' Conference 2018
The third annual Joe Wong Outstanding Poster Award Session was held at the 2018 SSRL/LCLS Users’ Meeting. (Dawn Harmer/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

For questions or comments, contact the SLAC Office of Communications at communications@slac.stanford.edu.


SLAC is a vibrant multiprogram laboratory that explores how the universe works at the biggest, smallest and fastest scales and invents powerful tools used by scientists around the globe. With research spanning particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, materials, chemistry, bio- and energy sciences and scientific computing, we help solve real-world problems and advance the interests of the nation.

SLAC is operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

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