XFEL (X-ray Free Electron Laser)

An X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) is a sophisticated scientific instrument that produces extremely intense and extremely short bursts of X-ray light. Unlike traditional lasers, which use electrons in atoms, XFELs generate X-rays by accelerating a high-speed beam of electrons through a specially designed magnetic structure called an undulator. As these electrons wiggle and bunch together, they emit powerful X-ray pulses that can last just femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second). This allows scientists to observe atomic and molecular processes in real-time with incredible detail, advancing fields like biology, chemistry, and materials science.