AI Image
LSU lands $20M to unlock some of nature’s fastest secrets
Baton Rouge Business Report • • science
Key Points:
- LSU has received a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish LaNeXT, a state-of-the-art X-ray facility enabling observation of ultra-fast chemical, biological, and materials processes at the atomic and molecular level within 30 femtoseconds.
- LaNeXT will integrate ultrafast laser-based X-rays, synchrotron X-rays, and advanced sample fabrication at a single site adjacent to the Louisiana Light Source, filling a unique niche in U.S. research by capturing molecular changes beyond the reach of current synchrotron facilities.
- The facility is a collaborative effort involving LSU, the University of Texas at Austin, and UC Berkeley, aimed at advancing studies in semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy chemistry, aerospace, automotive, defense, and advanced materials.
- LaNeXT's innovations could lead to more energy-efficient synchrotron operations nationwide, with potential federal electricity savings estimated at up to $20 billion annually, thereby reducing operating costs for major U.S. research facilities.
