definition for: #SwissFEL

SwissFEL is the X-ray free-electron laser being built at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. It will become operational in 2016.

In 2017 the first pilot experiments will start at the X-ray laser SwissFEL. The new large research facility at PSI will produce very short pulses of X-ray light, with laser-like properties. Researchers will be able to use these pulses to visualize extremely fast processes, such as how new molecules are created in a chemical reaction; to determine the detailed structure of vital proteins; or to determine the relationship between electronic and atomic structure in materials. From such studies, researchers will gain insights which are not possible to obtain with the methods available today.