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Published online 27 September 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.953

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Physicists shrink X-ray source

Laser accelerator almost fits on a tabletop.

A team of physicists has built a small, powerful X-ray source — a prototype of the sort of machine they hope could replace much larger facilities.

The technology has the potential to revolutionize everything from microbiology to materials science by giving scientists easier access to high-quality images of the things they are studying.

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  • Great news !!!!.. This is a huge improvement of the X-Ray production Physics and technology. I wonder what energy costs would the Femto-Second LASER need??... :) .. X-Ray sources of the size of a table top is awesome and would help researchers enormously and I guess it would come at a lesser price compared to today's X-ray machines. I have a doubt : would the X-ray production duration controllable ??

    • 30 Sep, 2009
    • Posted by: Sunil Anandatheertha