SLAC science at a time of transition

This coherent x-ray light source is amazing. A number of possible applications for this technology are imaginable.

First; the ability to, in some way, image the electronic shell structure of atoms might be possible with wavelengths of one Angstrom. This level of resolution can shed light on or perhaps image in some manner, the bonds between atoms in materials ranging from biological samples to short and intense bonds between tightly bound atoms such as can exist with the element of carbon. Good examples of such bonds are triple bonds which involve high degrees of chemical bonding energy.

A study of the way atoms bond from an observational perspective might somehow lead to materials with tighter or stronger bonds than those that exist within pure diamond, the hardest known ordinary substance.

Second; the technology might have defensive application in terms of space-based missile defense. A beam of x-rays that can burn through any known materials would have potential applications when deployed in space to zap incoming missiles, regardless of how well they are shielded. The cost of such space based hardware would be very high, but cheaper access to Earth orbit will eventually permit such battle-stations to be built. With the pleriferation of nuclear armed states and nuclear capable missiles, such a technology could be very important.

Third; the production of gamma rays by the same mechanisms that x-rays are produced could conceivably provide 0.01 to 0.001 femtosecond snap shots of atomic electron shell structure and perhaps even snap-shots of the structure of the atomic nucleus as well.

The production of concentrated ionizing electromagnetic radiation, such as the 1 Angstrom X-rays, can offer a fundamental new window into the field of high energy physics research including high energy particle physics. This opportunity will only improve as EM energy beam pulse power as well as the photon energy level increases. A 10 GigaWatt to 100 Gigawatt plus highly focused gamma ray beam or hard gamma ray beam would be awesome. Perhaps the International Linear Collider that will accelerate electrons to about 1 TeV could produce such a beam of gamma rays.