Scientists are set to explore the secrets of subatomic particles more deeply following a major upgrade to the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, based at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

The U.S. Department of Energy has approved the LCLS-II-HE upgrade, which will enhance the laser’s brightness by 3,000 times, making it capable of producing over one petabyte of data daily.

This upgrade, costing $716 million and expected to be completed by 2030, involves adding new cryomodules to increase electron acceleration and improve the laser’s resolution for atomic-scale imaging, Live Science has reported.

The LCLS is used to document atomic processes in various scientific fields, including chemistry and biology, and has already contributed to significant discoveries such as the real-time observation of photosynthesis.

Written by B.C. Begley