Novosibirsk State University (NSU) in Russia recently announced that its research team has successfully developed an innovative elliptical undulator and successfully passed radiation characteristic tests. This device is specifically designed for synchrotron radiation light sources and can generate high-intensity, highly collimated elliptically polarized X-rays, providing an important tool for cutting-edge research in fields such as materials science, nanotechnology, and condensed matter physics.

The elliptical undulator features an innovative magnetic structure design that precisely controls the trajectory of the electron beam in a periodic magnetic field, enabling the generation of elliptically polarized radiation with wavelengths covering soft to hard X-rays. Test results show that the device meets design specifications in key parameters such as radiation intensity, polarization purity, and spectral distribution, with an ellipticity exceeding 95% and a radiation flux approximately 30% higher than that of traditional undulators. The research team particularly noted the device's excellent performance in the low-energy X-ray band (5–15 keV), making it especially suitable for magnetic materials research and element-specific imaging.

Professor Sergey Kozlov, Director of the Accelerator Physics Laboratory at Novosibirsk State University, stated: "The successful development of this elliptical undulator marks a significant breakthrough in our research and development of key components for synchrotron radiation light sources. Its unique elliptical polarization radiation characteristics will provide unprecedented experimental capabilities for studying material electronic structures and magnetic interactions." The device will first be installed at the Novosibirsk Synchrotron Radiation Center for application testing, with plans to expand its use to other synchrotron radiation facilities in Russia in the future.

Elliptically polarized X-rays are of great value in materials science research, as they enable precise acquisition of information on atomic orbital orientation, spin states, and electron cloud distribution in materials by measuring the polarization dependence of X-ray absorption spectra. Compared to traditional linearly polarized radiation, elliptical polarization light sources provide richer physical information and are particularly suitable for studying complex magnetic systems and interface effects. This innovative achievement from Novosibirsk State University not only enhances Russia's international competitiveness in synchrotron radiation technology but also provides new experimental tools for global researchers, with the potential to drive breakthrough progress across multiple scientific disciplines.