SLAC is the world’s leading center for developing ultrafast X-ray, laser and electron beams that allow scientists to see atoms and molecules moving in just millionths of a billionths of a second. SLAC welcomes thousands of researchers each year to do groundbreaking experiments at our user facilities, including the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) and the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the world’s first hard X-ray free-electron laser and a revolutionary tool for research in chemistry, materials science, biology, plasma physics and matter in extreme conditions.
SLAC is a major contributor to projects exploring the physics of the universe and a leader in developing advanced accelerator concepts. SLAC is expanding into areas needed to push our science forward, including fusion energy science, quantum information science and bioimaging. Developing new technologies is a central focus, allowing it to broaden its mission into areas such as national security and nuclear nonproliferation, cancer treatment, neuroscience, telecommunications and advanced electronics for autonomous vehicles.
Learn more about user facilities here or visit SLAC's home page here.