On September 27, the ALS received news that the Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the mission need (also known as critical decision zero, or CD-0) for the ALS Upgrade (ALS-U). Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 377
OCTOBER 19, 2016
How to Directly Probe ac Spin Currents
Scientists working at the ALS have made the first unambiguous, direct measurements of ac spin currents flowing through nanostructured metal layers. The work represents a crucial step toward the development of future spintronic devices that are smaller, faster, and more energy efficient. Read more »
Tender X-Rays Map the Double-Layer Potential
In a first-of-its-kind experiment, ALS researchers demonstrated a new, direct way to study the inner workings of a phenomenon in chemistry known as an “electrochemical double layer” that forms where liquids meet solids—where battery fluid meets an electrode, for example. Read more »
A Molecular View of Sperm–Egg Fusion
Researchers have uncovered the first interactions between the human sperm and egg—the initial steps in the creation of human life. The discovery lays a foundation to better understand fertilization and could lead to the development of non-hormonal contraceptives. Read more »
Formation of Toxic Furans during Combustion
Researchers predicted and observed for the first time the formation and growth of furans and other oxygenated hydrocarbons produced during combustion. These compounds can have a wide range of detrimental effects on human health, air quality, and regional and global climate. Read more »
Designed Protein Nanocages Inspired by Nature
Inspired by protein molecules observed in nature, researchers have now engineered ten large, 120-subunit, two-component protein complexes. These designed nanomaterials are attractive starting points for new approaches to targeted drug delivery, vaccine design, and bioenergy. Read more »
2016 ALS User Meeting Highlights
About 400 ALS users came together at the beginning of the month for the annual ALS User Meeting. Attendees listened to colleagues present their research, took part in scientific workshops, interacted with exhibitors, and recognized this year’s awardees. Read more »
ALS-U Takes Center Stage at User Meeting
The ALS upgrade project (ALS-U) was a focus of this year’s User Meeting, beginning with Laboratory Director Mike Witherell’s announcement that ALS-U has received mission need approval, the first critical milestone in the DOE approval process. Several talks and workshops focused on the engineering aspects of the upgrade and science opportunities it will enable. Read more »
David Robin Named ALS-U Project Director; Fernando Sannibale Becomes ALS Division Deputy for Accelerator Operations and Development
David Robin of the Accelerator Technology and Applied Physics Division (ATAP) has been named project director of the Advanced Light Source Upgrade (ALS-U). Fernando Sannibale, presently the principal investigator of the Advanced Photoinjector Experiment at LBNL, will take Robin’s place as leader of the ongoing ALS Accelerator Physics program in ATAP and will also serve as the ALS Division Deputy for Accelerator Operations and Development. Read more »
Ruimin Qiao, Battery Researcher
Ruimin Qiao arrived at the ALS seven years ago as a PhD student and is now a postdoctoral researcher working with ALS Staff Scientist Wanli Yang at Beamline 8.0.1. Last month she was selected as the overall winner of the first-ever ALS/Molecular Foundry Science Slam. Read more »