Time-resolved luminescence using synchrotron radiation

Recent attention to the use of synchrotron radiation (SR) has concentrated on the value of its high intensity in the far infrared and the X-ray region. However, because of its unique time structure - light is emitted as a series of pulses with a time duration of less than 10-9 s - synchrotron radiation is just as useful for time-resolved studies. It is currently being used to study spectra, excited state processes and molecular motion in systems ranging from diamonds to chloroplasts. (author)