The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, California, is a testament to human curiosity and the pursuit of the unknown. Since its inception in 1962, originally as the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (as it was previously known), it has been on the forefront of scientific discovery in numerous scientific disciplines. It is truly one of the nation’s great scientific institutions, being at the forefront of numerous major discoveries that have deeply impacted – and will impact – the world. 

Six scientists have received four Nobel prizes for their groundbreaking research conducted at SLAC, which led to the discovery of two elementary particles, confirmed that protons consist of quarks, and elucidated the process by which DNA orchestrates the synthesis of proteins in cells.

Administered by Stanford University and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, SLAC has grown into a multifaceted research institution that explores a broad program in atomic and solid-state physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. The lab employs the use of X-rays generated from synchrotron radiation and a free-electron laser, among other tools, to push the boundaries of our understanding in areas ranging from elementary particle physics to cosmology​​.

SLAC’s roots can be traced back to the construction of the 3.2-kilometer Stanford Linear Accelerator in 1966, the world’s longest linear accelerator at the time. This remarkable structure has been pivotal in fundamental research that led to the discovery of the charm quark in 1976, the quark structure inside protons and neutrons in 1990, and the tau lepton in 1995, each discovery earning a Nobel Prize in Physics​​. This pioneering spirit is also embedded in SLAC’s cultural heritage, having provided a meeting space for the Homebrew Computer Club, which significantly contributed to the home computer revolution of the late 1970s and early 1980s​​. For example, Steve Wozniak debuted the prototype Apple-1 at the Homebrew Computer Club in 1976. 

SLAC has also played a significant role in the digital age, hosting the first World Wide Web server outside of Europe in December 1991, a milestone that underscores its contribution beyond the realm of physics​​. In the 1990s, the Stanford Linear Collider delved into the properties of the Z boson, further cementing SLAC’s position at the cutting edge of particle physics research​​.

New projects and experiments are undertaken at SLAC all the time, and new discoveries are constantly being made to help us understand the nature of matter, biological processes and the evolution of the universe, as well as to help bring us into a greener future. In November 2023, a team at SLAC along with the Toyota Motor Company made significant advances in fuel cell efficiency.

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), a free-electron laser facility, has been a highlight of SLAC’s facilities, providing intense X-ray radiation for diverse research areas since 2009. In September 2023, SLAC fired up the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, the LCLS-II, to explore atomic-scale, ultrafast phenomena that are key to a broad range of applications, from quantum materials to clean energy technologies and medicine.

“This achievement marks the culmination of over a decade of work,” said LCLS-II Project Director Greg Hays. “It shows that all the different elements of LCLS-II are working in harmony to produce X-ray laser light in an entirely new mode of operation.”  

It was in the facility that scientists and researchers developed the first X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). XFELs are like X-ray microscopes, and generate exceptionally bright and fleeting bursts of X-ray light, enabling researchers to observe the dynamics of molecules, atoms, and electrons with unparalleled clarity, exactly as these events unfold in their native, rapid timescales—a realm where the intricacies of chemistry, biology, and materials science play out. These facilities have played a pivotal role in numerous scientific breakthroughs, such as producing the first “molecular movie” that reveals the intricacies of complex chemical reactions, capturing the precise moments when plants and algae harness solar energy to generate the oxygen we rely on, and probing the intense conditions that shape the formation of planets and extraordinary events like diamond precipitation.

Over the years, SLAC has evolved to support a growing community of scientists. As of 2021, the lab employs approximately 1,600 staff members from 55 different countries, in addition to 470 postdoctoral researchers and graduate students. The center welcomes over 3,000 visiting researchers annually​​. This community has access to facilities such as the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource for materials science and biology experiments and the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope for astrophysics research​​.

The lab is also working at the forefront of astronomy and imaging. The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is at the helm of an ambitious project, crafting the world’s largest digital camera for the Vera Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Set to capture the southern sky from high on a mountaintop in Chile, this camera is a marvel of engineering and scientific collaboration. Its 3.2-gigapixel capacity allows it to snap detailed images every 15 seconds, offering an unprecedented window into the cosmos. The camera’s wide field of view can image an area 40 times larger than the full moon in one shot, and its advanced filters enable astronomers to probe the universe across a range of wavelengths. As part of the decade-long LSST, it will gather vast amounts of data, propelling our understanding of dark matter, dark energy, galaxy formation, and more​

In 2008, the lab was renamed from the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center to SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, reflecting a broader scientific mission. Since then, the lab has continued to receive significant funding, including $68.3 million in Recovery Act Funding in 2009​​. Notably, SLAC and Stanford University initiated the Bits and Watts project to develop better, greener electric grids, although SLAC later withdrew due to concerns over an industry partner​​.

SLAC’s current endeavors include the Facility for Advanced Accelerator Experimental Tests (FACET), where research on plasma acceleration continues to advance the field​​. Theoretical research at the lab spans quantum field theory, collider physics, astroparticle physics, and particle phenomenology​​. Moreover, SLAC has contributed to the development of the klystron, a high-power microwave amplification tube that amplifies high radio frequencies and has aided in archaeological discoveries such as revealing hidden text in the Archimedes Palimpsest​​.

Other recent updates from SLAC include a new system for turning seawater into hydrogen fuel​​​​. They have also made advancements in understanding the production of nitroxide, a molecule with potential biomedical applications, and the operation of superconducting X-ray lasers at temperatures colder than outer space​​​​.

The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s legacy is rich with scientific triumphs, and its future beckons with the promise of unraveling more of the universe’s deepest secrets. Whether through peering into the atomic structure or probing the vast cosmos, SLAC remains a beacon of discovery and innovation.