Synchrotron radiation research continues to be a major factor in the progress of science and technology, as it has been for more than half a century. We present different aspects of its history, starting with an unconventional approach: a fictional version, which should bring to light the reasons that make this field so broadly important. Then, we narrate the real history from three different points of view: the progress of electron accelerators, the evolution of synchrotron-based experiments, and the human factors. Finally, we discuss the present situation, characterized by the arrival of a new generation of sources with exceptional performances: the x-ray free electron lasers (x-FEL’s).

中文翻译：

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同步加速器光：六十年的成功故事

同步加速辐射研究一直是科学技术进步的主要因素，距今已有半个多世纪的历史了。我们从非常规的方法开始介绍其历史的不同方面：一个虚构的版本，应阐明使这一领域如此重要的原因。然后，我们从三个不同的角度叙述真实的历史：电子加速器的进展，基于同步加速器的实验的发展以及人为因素。最后，我们讨论当前的情况，其特点是出现了具有卓越性能的新一代光源：X射线自由电子激光器（x-FEL's）。