At the ESRF, the European synchrotron in Grenoble, light beams are shining again, more brilliantly than ever: with the opening of the first synchrotron of the high-energy fourth generation - the ESRF Extremely Brilliant Source (ESRF-EBS). After a 20-month shutdown, scientists are back at the ESRF to carry out experiments with the new EBS source. The ring-shaped device with a circumference of 844 meters produces X-rays that are 100 times brighter than its predecessor and 10 trillion times brighter than medical X-rays. These powerful X-rays herald a new era for science, making it possible to understand the complexity of materials and living matter at the nanometric level. The ESRF-EBS will help address global challenges in key areas such as health, environment, energy and new industrial materials, and uncover hidden secrets of our cultural and natural heritage through non-destructive investigations of precious artifacts and paleontological treasures. The EBS is a shining example of international cooperation. It has been funded by 22 countries (including the USA and Japan) who have joined forces to build this innovative and globally unique research infrastructure between 2015 and 2022, an investment of 150 million euros.
"The opening of the first fourth-generation high-energy synchrotron is a milestone for the entire X-ray science community. We are all excited about the revolutionary science and the new applications that will emerge from it. Everyone at the ESRF deserves praise for the result, which was achieved on time and on budget despite the current circumstances".
Says Miguel Àngel Garcia Aranda, Chairman of the ESRF Council.
"The novel accelerator technology of the ESRF-EBS opens the door to revolutionary insights into the molecular machinery of complex materials and biological systems. It is the new tool for the development of future technologies and better medicines and is therefore of the highest relevance for the future of European society,"
adds Helmut Dosch, Vice-Chairman of the ESRF Council.
"This is a moment that makes the entire synchrotron community proud," says Francesco Sette, Director-General of the ESRF. "With the opening of this brand-new generation of high-energy synchrotrons, the ESRF continues its pioneering role, providing scientists with an unprecedented tool to break the boundaries of science and address important challenges facing our society today, such as health, the environment and energy."
A new era for X-ray science and the study of matter
Imagine being able to scan a human organ at extremely high resolution to better understand the infection process, for example in diseases such as COVID-19. Or what about the ability to image the human brain at synapse level, with important implications in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and developing technologies based on artificial neural network architectures. What if we were able to measure the presence of nanoparticles from our everyday products in quantities that were previously undetectable to better assess their potential toxicity to the environment? Or track lithium atoms during the battery cycle for more efficient charging? Being able to perform a virtual autopsy of an entire mummy down to cellular size? Or what about 3D scanning a T-Rex skull down to the growth lines of the teeth?
With a 100-fold increase in performance, ESRF-EBS, the first fourth-generation high-energy synchrotron, will enable the 3D exploration of matter from the meter to the nanometer scale. This will help scientists to better understand the complexity of living and condensed matter.
Since April, researchers have already used the EBS beam to study SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, to understand the effects of the disease on human organs.
A new generation of high-energy synchrotrons
"A dream machine is becoming a reality, now delivering extremely small X-ray beams to advance synchrotron research. I'm excited about the science that will come out of it!" says Pantaleo Raimondi, Director of the Accelerator & Source department at ESRF and inventor of the ESRF EBS concept.
The new machine will circulate a ribbon-shaped electron beam with a height of 2 micrometers and a width of 20 micrometers, which is one thirtieth of the width of the previous beam. To achieve these performances, the ESRF has implemented a new grating - the Hybrid Multi-Bend Achromat (HMBA) grating invented by Pantaleo Raimondi. This is based on a new arrangement of innovative magnets: 1,000 magnets - almost twice as many as in the previous storage ring - are housed in the same 844 m long accelerator tunnel. This new magnet configuration will guide and focus the electrons to produce an X-ray beam that is 100 times more brilliant and coherent than before.
The challenge: building a next-generation synchrotron in an existing infrastructure
"The body of a car remains the same, but we have removed the old engine and installed a new Ferrari engine," explains Pantaleo Raimondi.
On December 10, 2018, one of the most powerful X-ray sources in the world was shut down for 20 months, after 26 years of faithful service, having paved the way for modern third-generation synchrotron sources worldwide. It has now been replaced by a new light source with a new revolutionary concept and is now even more brilliant than before: the ESRF EBS.
It took the teams three months to dismantle the ESRF's historic storage ring (cutting 200 km of cable and removing 1720 tons of equipment) and nine months to install the new machine in the 844 m tunnel. The 10,000 innovative technological components were then aligned over several kilometers with a relative accuracy of less than 50 micrometers - about half the thickness of a human hair.
On November 28, 2019, electrons were injected into the new EBS storage ring for the first time. Commissioning followed, and on March 14, shortly before the site was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parameters required to restart the machine were achieved five months ahead of schedule.
A good example of international cooperation
More than ever, science needs to be international and global in order to tackle the complex challenges facing our society. Since its foundation in 1988, the ESRF has advanced synchrotron research worldwide. Nations from Europe and later from other parts of the world have decided to join forces to realize the dream of creating unique opportunities for new knowledge in the service of science and thus of humanity. Driven by scientific and technological excellence, willing to take and share the risk of the unknown and recognizing the value of international collaboration regardless of discipline, gender, language and culture, the ESRF partner countries have set a new standard in international cooperation with the successful implementation of the EBS programme - within the foreseen budget and timeline. ESRF-EBS paves the way for more than a dozen projects worldwide, including in the United States and Japan.
