Most powerful X-ray laser dedicated at Stanford; may lead to new discoveries in drugs, energy

Stanford’s X-ray laser promises new discoveries

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Stanford University is now touting the world’s most powerful X-ray laser.

Researchers have been using the apparatus at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park for several months, but it got its official dedication Monday with a visit from U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

The laser is the only one of its kind in the world. It is able to view matter on a scale of individual atoms and enables scientists to take stop-motion pictures of moving atoms and molecules.

Researchers plan to use the X-ray laser for experiments that they say may lead to new discoveries in drug development, energy production and computer science.