Indus-2

Indus-2. It is a high-energy, high-intensity synchrotron radiation source located at the Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology in Indore, India. As a major research facility of the Department of Atomic Energy, it provides intense X-ray and ultraviolet light for advanced experiments in materials science, biology, and chemistry. The facility supports a wide user community from national institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology and international collaborators, positioning India prominently in the global synchrotron research landscape.

Overview

Indus-2 serves as a premier national facility for cutting-edge research using synchrotron light. The facility operates under the guidance of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and is a critical component of India's strategic scientific infrastructure. It enables investigations at the atomic and molecular scale, supporting work akin to that performed at international facilities like the Advanced Photon Source and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The generated beamlines are used for diverse techniques including X-ray diffraction, X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray imaging, facilitating discoveries in fields from condensed matter physics to structural biology.

Technical specifications

The machine is a 2.5 GeV electron storage ring with a circumference of 172.47 meters, designed for a critical photon energy of 5.88 keV. Its lattice structure is based on a Double Bend Achromat design, which provides stable electron orbits and high-brightness photon beams. The injection system consists of a 20 MeV microtron and a 450-700 MeV synchrotron booster ring, known as Indus-1, which pre-accelerates electrons before injection. The ring currently hosts multiple operational beamlines, such as the Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy beamline and the Protein Crystallography beamline, with more under development.

Scientific applications

Research at Indus-2 spans a vast array of scientific and technological disciplines. In materials science, it is used to study novel materials like high-temperature superconductors, multiferroics, and nanomaterials for energy applications. The Indian Institute of Science and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research frequently utilize its capabilities for X-ray absorption fine structure studies. For the life sciences, beamlines enable macromolecular crystallography to determine structures of proteins relevant to diseases, aiding drug discovery efforts. Industrial applications include non-destructive testing for Defence Research and Development Organisation projects and analyzing cultural heritage artifacts in collaboration with institutions like the Archaeological Survey of India.

History and development

The project was conceived in the 1990s to meet the growing demand for a domestic synchrotron light source, with formal approval granted by the Government of India in 1997. Major design and component manufacturing involved collaborations with domestic industries and knowledge exchange with international laboratories like the Argonne National Laboratory. The storage ring achieved its first stored beam in 2005, marking a significant milestone for Indian science. Subsequent years involved meticulous commissioning of beamlines and accelerators, with the facility being dedicated to the nation in 2010. Ongoing upgrades, such as the installation of insertion devices, continue to enhance its performance and scientific output.

See also

* Indus-1 * Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology * Synchrotron * Bhabha Atomic Research Centre * Department of Atomic Energy (India)

Category:Particle accelerators Category:Research institutes in India Category:Science and technology in India