South Korea Sets Up Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Pohang

A type of particle accelerator which lets out bright X-rays known as synchrotron radiation facility has been launched by researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

Because of this, South Korea has become the third country to design and establish the advanced facility. The other two countries who have such facility are the United States and Japan.

On Thursday, Postech and Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning commemorated its completion at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory in the North Gyeongsang port city.

The facility is also known as the X-ray Free Electron Laser. It can emit X-rays at 0.1-nanometer wavelengths, which are 10 billion times brighter than the third-generation facilities. The light from the cutting-edge facility is 1.1 kilometers long and is 100 quadrillion times brighter than the Sun.

The upgrade allows researchers to monitor and study the microstructures of materials with immense accuracy in real time such as the moment water decomposes into oxygen and hydrogen and a virus protein penetrating a cell membrane.

The ministry said that experts and researchers in the field of biotechnology, nanotechnology, clean energy, and semiconductors will greatly benefit from the use of the facility.

During the ceremony, President Park Geun Hye said, "Korea's science technology has taken one big step towards the future. The fourth generation light source facility will serve as a key to unraveling the secrets behind space and life and will provide essential infrastructure for Korea to dominate next-generation industries in advance."

In order to develop the machine, the ministry spent 429.8 billion won ($390 million) starting April 2011 until the end of 2015 to support Postech. The facility's pilot operation started in April and it was able to generate its first high-density laser on June 4.

The ministry and Postech will conduct a final assessment of the facility with a demonstration in December with scientists from Korea and abroad as guests. Applications from scientists who want to use the facility will start in March. The ministry further added that it will prefer Korean candidates.