For the next six months, the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan will be under construction, as the linear accelerator needs to be replaced.

The linear accelerator, or linac, is the system that speeds up the electrons which are then used to produce the ultrabright light used by researchers to study materials.

The new, modern linac and refurbished underground tunnel where it’s stored will improve the reliability of the facility, as the old infrastructure dates back to the 1960s.

While this upgrade is underway, the scientists that rely on the CLS for their groundbreaking research will have to put a pause on their projects, but in the long term, this improvement will ensure the facility can operate at high availability.