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SLAC builds and uses various kinds of lasers to do scientific research. 

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PULSE graduate student Jian Chen in a laser lab at SLAC.

News Feature

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

NIF experiment
Press Release

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

Photosystem II
Animation
In photosystem II, the water-splitting center cycles through four stable states, S0-S3. On a baseball field, S0 would be...
Photosystem II baseball
Illustration
When light drives electron transfer in a molecular complex, the surrounding solvent molecules also rapidly move.
When light drives electron transfer in a molecular complex, the surrounding solvent molecules also rapidly move.
Illustration

Scientists use a series of magnets to transform an electron bunch into a narrow current spike which then produces a very intense attosecond X-ray...

XLEAP illustration
Photograph
The Laser Science and Technology (LST) division of the LCLS provides operational support for laser systems used in the LCLS photoinjector and experimental end...
LCLS laser lab
Illustration
The ultrafast, ultrabright X-ray pulses of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) have enabled unprecedented views of a catalyst in action, an important step...
Nilsson science cover
Photograph
Selina Li, Sebastien Corde and Philippe Hering in the FACET laser lab.
FACET laser lab
Press Release
A new study has found that “diamond rain,” a long-hypothesized exotic type of precipitation on ice giant planets, could be more common than previously...
Diamond rain formation
News Feature

X-ray laser experiments show that intense light distorts the structure of a thermoelectric material in a unique way, opening a new avenue for controlling...

Illustration shows two ball-and-stick molecules in pink and red separated by a blurred streak representing how the first structure is slightly deformed into the second.
News Feature

Scientists discover that triggering superconductivity with a flash of light involves the same fundamental physics that are at work in the more stable states...

Exposing the material to a magnetic field
News Feature

Through her work with this nationwide program, Curry plans to make high-power laser facilities more accessible to researchers.

Chandra Breanne Curry