Scientists from a wide variety of fields come to the ALS to perform experiments. Listed below are some of the most common research areas covered by ALS beamlines. Below each heading are a few examples of the specific types of topics included in that category. Click on a heading to learn more about that research area at the ALS.
Applied Sciences
Optics, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, metrology, instrumentation, detectors, new synchrotron techniques.
Biological Sciences
General biology, structural biology.
Chemical Sciences
Surfaces/interfaces, catalysts, chemical dynamics (gas-phase chemistry), crystallography, physical chemistry.
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Earth and planetary science, bioremediation, climate change, water chemistry.
Energy Sciences
Photovoltaics, photosynthesis, biofuels, energy storage, combustion, catalysis, carbon capture/sequestration.
Materials Sciences
Correlated materials, nanomaterials, magnetism, polymers, semiconductors, water, advanced materials.
Physical Sciences
Atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics; accelerator physics.