China plans to use this technology to shed light on atomic structures
China is reportedly preparing to activate one of the world’s most advanced X-ray light sources, the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), located near Beijing. The facility, built at a cost of $657 million, is expected to transmit X-rays to experimental stations by the end of December. The fourth-generation synchrotron, one of only a few in the world, would allow researchers to investigate structures of proteins, materials and chemical reactions at the atomic scale. Final operational approval from the National Development and Reform Commission is awaited before its inauguration.
Breakthrough capabilities of HEPS
HEPS generates X-ray light by accelerating electrons to high energies and sending them along a circular track, according to Science.org report. The emitted synchrotron radiation, mainly “hard” X-rays, is divided into 14 initial beamlines. Scientists will use these beams to image structures at the atomic and nanometer scales, and to observe chemical processes in nanoseconds.
According to ScienceAdvancer, Mingda Li, an expert on materials quantum properties at MIT, described this as a game-changing moment for synchrotron researchcomparing it to the unveiling of a new telescope that reveals previously unseen phenomena.
Applications in structural biology and materials science
As reported in the publication, Dong Yuhui, deputy director of the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP), noted that HEPS will significantly advance research in structural biology. The technology will reportedly enable high-resolution imaging of protein machinery, viruses and cellular structures in their natural environment. However, managing the massive data generated by these experiments remains a significant challenge.
Global competition and future plans
HEPS marks Asia’s first fourth-generation synchrotron, making China a leader in advanced light source technology. While upgrades are reportedly planned for Japan’s SPring-8 facility to create SPring-8-II by 2029, HEPS wants to remain competitive. The addition of 30 to 32 beamlines over the next five years has been announced by Dong, which will continue to develop capabilities and support various scientific activities.
By January 2025, proposals from the global research community will reportedly be accepted, with fierce competition expected in the beam time space.
