Annual report 2018

This annual report from Kansai Photon Science Institute (KPSI) provides highlights of the scientific and technical researches that were conducted over the 2018 fiscal year. Three years have passed since the restart of KPSI in QST, and several outstanding results are being produced. In the laser science field at the Kizu site, the pulse contrast of the J-KAREN laser is substantially improved by reviewing the arrangement of the optical elements, and we have succeeded in generating GeV class quasi-monochromatic electron beam by laser acceleration and ultrashort X-rays generation using high-order harmonics from relativistic plasma. In the field of the life science, new findings emerged such as elucidating the physicochemical role of DNA in the transcriptional control mechanism of genes. At the Harima site, we also obtained several excellent results such as discovering the functional the functional expression mechanism of mineral magadiite using synchrotron radiation X-rays and the observation of the shortest wavelength super fluorescence using the X-ray free electron laser SACLA. In addition, regarding the social implementation of optical technology, we are making efforts toward practical application of non-invasive blood glucose measurement and laser based tunnel inspection technology. (J.P.N.)