Return to the Alba Synchrotron

On 13 May 2025, fifteen students from the Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Technologies and Economic Analysis (UPC and UPF) visited the Alba Synchrotron. They were first-year students and had moved to Cerdanyola del Vallès.

The visit is made regularly within the framework of the visits to companies that are organized by the academic coordination of the degree, directed by Professor Joaquim Minguella. The aim is to complement the basic learning of the studies and to make future engineers aware of the scientific and industrial realities available. Likewise, it is appropriate to know the state of the art about this important technology.

The arrival

The ALBA is considered a great Scientific and technical infrastructure. It is an electron acceleration complex: produces synchrotron light and allows, among other applications, to visualize the atomic and molecular structure of materials and study their properties. As a scientific and technical resource, it has great potential for application in numerous fields of scientific research and industry.

The group of students went to the Synchrotron accompanied by Professor Josep Sempau from the Department of Physics of the ETSEIB and Institute of Energy Technologies. Once there, visitors were received at the entrance by the head of the division accelerators of the Synchrotron, the doctor Francis Pérez. After the mandatory identifications, the group of attendees watched an introductory video.

Thus, the students already learned, among other shocking information, that the mission of the Synchrotron is to generate light to have information about materials, that about 3,000 researchers / year pass through it and that the electrons in the light beam make a million revolutions per second in the Synchrotron tunnel. Subsequently, the visit began.

In the Synchrotron a beam of very intense and very stable light is produced. Around the beam of light, up to thirteen experiments can currently be carried out in parallel. Thus, scientists from very different disciplines work at the same time. This simultaneity makes it easier for researchers to ask questions about the research they are carrying out.

Approach to operation

The beam of light is emitted by electrons circulating at almost the speed of light inside a vacuum tube. The vacuum is necessary so that the electrons do not collide with the air particles. How do you accelerate the electron beam to almost the speed of light? To do this, two pre-accelerators are needed that in stages increase the speed of the electrons with electromagnetic fields, with the use of electromagnets and radiofrequency cavities.

The function of electromagnets is to bend the trajectory of the electron beam and that of the cavities, to give them energy. The light from the synchrotron is emitted to the electric bending machines, but also to so-called insertion devices. Thus, a set of insertion devices, duly located along the circular tunnel, ensures that the electrons circulate in curves, exactly as if they were slaloming. By continuously bending the path of the electron beam, the intensity of the light is increased. However, electromagnets are also needed to correct the oscillations of the electrons, so that they do not deviate from their orbital trajectory.

From the circular acceleration tunnel (particle accelerator), which determines the structure of the Synchrotron , thirteen lines of experiments emerge that take advantage of the synchrotron light beam. Synchrotron light contains a very wide energy range, from infrared to X-rays. Each experiment takes advantage of  the part that interests him because of his experimental technique. Thus, when the beam of light illuminates the material to be studied, there can be different processes: light absorption, refraction, phosphorescence, etc. This is  how the structure and composition of materials can be determined.

The research organization

Every six months a call is madeto host research projects at the Synchrotron. When the proposals are received, they are evaluated by a scientific committee external to the Synchrotron and they are graded by means of a rubric. If it receives an A+ grade, the project is accepted. The process of selecting proposals is important. Using the facilities of the Synchrotron implies, in practical terms, receiving funding. In return, these accepted proposals must publish the results of their research, making them accessible to the rest of society.

However, if a private company wants to use the Synchrotron for its R+D+I need, it has to bear a cost. This cost is around €600/hour, contracting a minimum of eight hours. By accessing  the Synchrotron in this way, the ownership of the data obtained is guaranteed without the obligation to make them public.

The Synchrotron is officially considered a major scientific and technical infrastructure and, therefore, is supported by public funds. As a result, private companies are charged for the use of the Synchrotron at a price and no business margin is generated. It should be noted, however, that many users of the Synchrotron are already research projects also funded with public funds with industrial applications. In some cases, the projects already have the participation of companies.

The groups of scientists who come to the Synchrotron work autonomously. However, they have reception and technical support, with a more basic level and a more expert level. Therefore, the development of the experiment is his responsibility.

Research applications

In fact, enterprises are only 3% of the Synchrotron’s “customers”. More specifically, the using  the Synchrotron the most is the pharmaceutical one. There is also a chemical industry, such as in the study of the physical effects of water particles in clothes whasing. Another case that also uses the Synchrotron is the cement industry. In fact, the applications of synchrotron light are to know the internal structure of material or the microscopy of cells. Likewise, determine the composition of small parts per million in a medium such as, for example, studying lead contaminants in leaves.

Applications are endless. Thus, on one occasion samples taken from an altarpiece of the Monastery of Pedralbes were also analysed  to stop its degradation. After the analysis, it was discovered that the causative agent was a fungus. From there, it was fumigated to restore the paintings later. Other applications have been to know exactly the components of contaminated water to facilitate its purification.

Some key information

Throughout the visit, GTIAE students receive a lot of information and very relevant information. Below we reproduce some of them that help to grasp the relevance of the Synchrotron.

• Inaugurated in 2010, the Alba Synchrotron had a cost of €210 million.
• €5-6 million/year is the cost of the electricity bill consumed by the Synchrotron.
• Origin of the research teams: 6.5% from Spain, 2.5% from the rest of Europe and the rest is from different origins around the world.
• The lines of experiments currently underway are being expanded: from thirteen to fifteen, which will allow more experiments to be carried out in parallel.
• The structure of the building is isolated from the structure that supports the circular accelerator to avoid possible distortion in the light beam because of  vibrations. In its construction, possible seismic movements were considered, as well as the vibrations of the near motorway. In addition, the foundations on which the structure that supports the particle accelerator rests are three meters thick. 
• The accelerator has its  own ethernet for security reasons (e.g. to prevent cyberattacks) and can be controlled remotely.
• The entire facility is at 23 degrees centigrade, plus minus 0.1 degree, to maintain the stability of the facility’s structures. The relative humidity remains low, between 50 and 60%. Therefore, it has an air conditioning system.

Engineering, cost management and research

The great conclusion of the visit to Alba Synchrotron was to discover that there is also room for GTIAE graduates in scientific and technical infrastructures. In fact, there are already engineers who work there and do a lot of design, care and maintenance tasks for the facilities. They participate in providing technical support to the research teams. In addition, in a transversal way, cost management, that is, economic management, is also key for the Synchrotron.

Additionally, in the Alba Synchrotron there are places available to do the extracurricular internships of the GTIAE. This is a good choice for young people who feel their calling at the intersection of engineering, large facilities management, and research. Without a doubt, an interesting option.

Many thanks to the Alba Synchrotron team that welcomed the GTIAE students.

An essential visit that will surely reveal new vocations.