• Question: How do you make electrons dance

    Asked by ellie to Ed on 11 Mar 2015. This question was also asked by Katy.
    • Photo: Ed Rial

      Ed Rial answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      Hi Ellie

      At Diamond we accelerate electrons up to almost the speed of light, and once we have done that we store them at that speed in a particle accelerator called a storage ring. Our storage ring is over 500m long. When these electrons travel through a magnetic field they get feel a force and get pushed sideways.

      I make special magnets called Wigglers that are up to 5 metres long and push the electrons from side to side a few hundred times every time they press through it, which is 500,000 tints a second! I like to think I make them dance!

      When an electron gets pushed sideways it emits light, so by making them wiggle hundreds of times I make them emit a lot of light!

      I hope that’s clearer now 🙂

Comments