Researchers Successfully Transfer Electron Beam in SKIF Synchrotron
In a fundamental technical breakthrough, the team at the Collective Use Center Sibirskiy Koltsevoy Istochnik Fotonov (SKIF) near Novosibirsk achieved a critical milestone. On December 22, 2025, they successfully transferred an accelerated electron beam at 3 gigaelectronvolts from the booster synchrotron to the main storage ring. This achievement brings Russia closer to commissioning its first fourth-generation (4+) synchrotron light source. 🔬
SKIF: A Cutting-Edge Scientific Tool
The SKIF facility is being built to generate extremely bright and concentrated synchrotron light. This radiation allows scientists to analyze the structure of materials at the atomic and molecular level. The project aims to position Russia at the forefront of research with large scientific infrastructures.
Research areas that will benefit:- Biology: To study the structure of proteins and viruses.
- Materials Science: To develop new compounds and alloys.
- Chemistry and Physics: To investigate reactions and fundamental properties of matter.
Achieving the injection of electrons into the main ring is an indispensable requirement for subsequently storing them and making them circulate stably.
The Significance of the Beam Transfer
This milestone is not only a technical achievement but the gateway to the full operation of the synchrotron. Injecting electrons into the main ring is the first step to storing them and making them circulate stably. Only when this is achieved continuously will the electrons emit the intense synchrotron light beam by curving their trajectory. 💡
Next steps for the technical team:- Fine-tune and optimize the beam injection and storage process.
- Achieve the design parameters for stable electron circulation.
- Begin producing synchrotron light for the first scientific experiments.
The Final Challenge: Beam Stability
The next major challenge, described humorously by the researchers, is to get the electrons to go around for hours in the ring without "getting distracted." This level of stability is more complex to achieve than concentration in a long virtual meeting and is essential for SKIF to function as the powerful research tool it was designed to be. Success in this phase will mark the beginning of a new era for Russian science. 🚀