SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

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SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) is a United States Department of Energy National Laboratory operated by Stanford University. Located in Menlo Park, California, SLAC is a multi-program laboratory that conducts research in various fields including particle physics, astrophysics, and materials science.

History

SLAC was established in 1962 as the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The laboratory was originally focused on high-energy physics research, utilizing its 2-mile-long linear accelerator, which was the longest in the world at the time. Over the years, SLAC has expanded its research scope to include a wide range of scientific disciplines.

Research Areas

SLAC's research is organized into several key areas:

Particle Physics

SLAC has been a leader in particle physics research, contributing to significant discoveries such as the J/ψ meson and the tau lepton. The laboratory is involved in various international collaborations, including the Large Hadron Collider.

Astrophysics

SLAC's Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) conducts research in cosmology and astrophysics, focusing on understanding the fundamental nature of the universe.

Materials Science

SLAC's Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) and the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) are world-class facilities for materials science research. These facilities use advanced X-ray techniques to study the properties of materials at the atomic and molecular levels.

Facilities

SLAC is home to several state-of-the-art research facilities:

• Stanford Linear Collider (SLC): A linear accelerator used for high-energy physics experiments.
• Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL): A synchrotron light source for materials science research.
• Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS): The world's first hard X-ray free-electron laser.

Notable Achievements

SLAC has been the site of numerous groundbreaking discoveries and technological advancements. Some of the notable achievements include:

• Discovery of the J/ψ meson in 1974, which confirmed the existence of the charm quark.
• Development of the Stanford Positron Electron Asymmetric Ring (SPEAR), which led to the discovery of the tau lepton.
• Contributions to the development of X-ray free-electron lasers.

See Also

• Particle accelerator
• Synchrotron radiation
• Free-electron laser
• Department of Energy National Laboratories
• Stanford University

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