World's First X-Ray Laser Goes Live 238
smolloy writes "The world's first X-ray laser (LCLS) has seen first light.
A Free Electron Laser (FEL) is based on the light that is emitted by accelerated electrons when they are forced to move in a curved path. The beam then interacts with this emitted light in order to excite coherent emission (much like in a regular laser); thus producing a very short, extremely bright, bunch of coherent X-ray photons. The engineering expertise that went into this machine is phenomenal — 'This is the most difficult light source that has ever been turned on,' said LCLS Construction Project Director John Galayda. 'It's on the boundary between the impossible and possible, and within two hours of start-up these guys had it right on.' — and the benefits to the applied sciences from research using this light can be expected to be enormous: 'For some disciplines, this tool will be as important to the future as the microscope has been to the past,' said SLAC Director Persis Drell."
The one question we all want to know. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:5, Funny)
Can it give me super powers if it accidentally hits me?!
It can give you the power to roll around on the ground and crap yourself. Does that count?
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:5, Funny)
The way it works in old comics, a ray gun gives the *shooter* power. But what good is a ray gun that shoots right through stuff? Won't the ray from my gun just circle around past the end of the universe and hit me in the back, like having sex with my girlfriend's sister?
How soon... (Score:2, Funny)
I'd pay money for that...
Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
Strangest acronym evar.
size (Score:3, Funny)
popcorn (Score:3, Funny)
Can I suggest that they put this thing in the belly of an airforce drone and attempt to cook a tub of popcorn on the ground? Perhaps in my professor's house?
Re:A big medical breakthrough. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:5, Funny)
Where can I pickup my free Electron Laser? Will they be ad-supported (watch an ad before you get to fire the laser) or is there a 'pro' version?
Re:size (Score:5, Funny)
HA. Typical non-mad scientists thinking! you will never get anywhere thinking like that!
The question is, "SO when will there be a shark large enough to mount this on?"
and that would be next week.
Re:A big medical breakthrough. (Score:3, Funny)
And we'll all have our own X-Ray laser pointer.
Awesome! You won't be able to see what you are pointing at, but it can still burn out your eyes.
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:5, Funny)
Can it give me super powers if it accidentally hits me?!
Yes. It can make you disappear instantly. But only the one time.
An X-Laser? (Score:1, Funny)
Don't let Abaddon find out about it! He'll destroy billions in his quest for rushing human supremacy over the Galactic Milieu!!
Only his brother can save us!
Re:Priority review (Score:3, Funny)
And because it's ridiculously impractical?
Re:size (Score:5, Funny)
HA. Typical non-evil mastermind thinking! you will never get anywhere thinking like that!
The question is, "SO which lawyer do you want to mount this on?"
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:3, Funny)
On the upside, if you manage to reassemble yourself from that state, you'll get a nifty blue glow and no one will arrest you for running around naked all day.
Ha ha! Dangly parts.
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:3, Funny)
No, but your grand(^^64 [wikipedia.org])son might
Surely, you mean Graham_64 [wikipedia.org] son?
SHOE STORES! (Score:1, Funny)
What, no comments yet?
I remember, half a century ago, just walkin' in to a local shoe store, with a coupla pals. We'd have fun playing with the shoe-store X-ray machine.
"Wow! watch me wiggle my toes !" etc etc
And then would go home, and later that night in bed, after Mom or Dad told me to turn the light off, I would read my Captain Marvel comics to the light of my glowing feet...
Then those evil machines got banned.
Strangely, all my kids seem to have assumed adult-hood without... uhhh.. "mutations".
We were just lucky I guess.
And my feet are OK. 'Cept when I go barefoot in cold weather...
Jeez. 50 years later. I can still run a daily 10Km on those feet. Is there something that I don't know?
Re:A big medical breakthrough. (Score:3, Funny)
Yes, for values of "glow" equal to "burst into flames." If sufficiently concentrated, it really doesn't take much energy to ignite something assuming it has a relatively low flash temperature (like wood, paper, even plastic or paint).
Re:The one question we all want to know. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Awesome (Score:2, Funny)
I was request number 4, you insensitive clod!
Yo dawg (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Awesome (Score:2, Funny)
Right turn, Claude.