Synchrotron radiation for materials science research

The Synchrotron Radiation Source at the Daresbury Laboratory in the UK is described. The unique properties of synchrotron radiation can be exploited in materials science, and a few examples are highlighted. The synchrotron provides a number of spectroscopic and diffraction facilities. Others such as x-ray microscopy and trace element analysis will add to future materials science capability. Some of these techniques complement conventional laboratory systems, though providing very significant improvements in resolution, data capture and other features; others are, by comparison, no longer realistically attempted with laboratory sources. (author)