Synchrotron Radiation Facilities in Taiwan

Abstract

In 1983, the Taiwan government established the Synchrotron Radiation Research Center to begin the planning of a national synchrotron facility for soft X-ray and vacuum ultraviolet research. After several years of preparation, the Taiwan Light Source (TLS), a 1.3-GeV storage ring, became commissioned for user operation in October 1993. Since then, synchrotron radiation research has grown to become a major field of research in Taiwan. In May 2003, the synchrotron organization formally became one of seven national laboratories and was given the name National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC). This institutional establishment ensures continuous support by the government in terms of annual budget and future development of the Center. In December 2007, the government approved a new synchrotron project to construct a small-emittance 3-GeV storage ring, the Taiwan Photon Source (TPS). In this report, we briefly discuss in two parts the development of accelerator facilities, and the growth of user research programs at NSRRC.