First Experiment at the ALBA Synchrotron

The first of seven beamlines at the ALBA synchrotron light facility (Catalonia, Spain) has been put to work. The BOREAS line, assigned to studying materials using X-ray spectroscopy, was used in an experiment that studied the magnetic behavior of specific nanoparticles that improve the properties of superconductor tapes so that they can transmit larger amounts of electricity more efficiently.

Researchers Eduardo Solano and Josep Ros, of the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain) Department of Chemistry, together with researchers Jaume Gàzquez, Susagna Ricart, and Teresa Puig of the Superconductors Group, Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (Bellaterra, Spain), are studying the nanostructure of superconductor layers of superconductor ceramic material (YBa²Cu³O⁷), incorporated with metal oxide nanoparticles. Because the material can be cooled down easily by using liquid nitrogen to maintain its superconductor properties, it allows for the transfer of electricity from one point to another without losing much of the energy, with an efficiency much greater than conventional electric cables.

The project is one of 50 chosen from 203 proposals presented for the seven beamlines. Of the proposals, 167 came from Spain, 30 from other European countries, and the six remaining projects were sent from Asia and the United States.