South Korea has officially begun construction on the Korea Light Source (KLS), a fourth-generation synchrotron facility that will usher in a new era of multimodal research, enabling simultaneous analysis of the internal structures, atomic arrangements, and electronic states of materials essential for semiconductor, battery, and drug development.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 27 at the KLS site in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, attended by officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI). Kwon Hyuk-chae, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "We will elevate the technological standards of the semiconductor, battery, and bio industries with KLS, and the government will spare no effort in providing budget and policy support for the successful execution of this project."
The KLS will be developed on a 540,000 square meter site, equivalent to about 74 soccer fields. It will consist of a linear accelerator, booster, an 800-meter circumference storage ring, and beamlines, forming a large-scale national research infrastructure. The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2029. Shin Seung-hwan, head of the KLS construction project, noted, "We plan to conduct pilot operations in 2030, allowing researchers to fully utilize the facility starting in 2031."
The synchrotron accelerates electrons to nearly the speed of light and rotates them approximately 375,000 times per second in the circular storage ring, generating powerful synchrotron radiation. This radiation allows for precise analysis of the atomic structure, chemical properties, and electronic states of materials. Often referred to as a "super microscope," it will be utilized in various fields, including semiconductor, battery, bio, drug, and advanced materials research and development.
A key difference between the KLS and the existing Pohang third-generation synchrotron is the brightness of the synchrotron radiation. Shin explained, "The performance of the accelerator depends on how densely the magnets are arranged in the storage ring. In the fourth generation, the number and density of magnets will significantly increase, enhancing the brightness of the synchrotron radiation by more than 100 times compared to the third generation."
Increased brightness will not only reduce the time required for experiments but also enable analysis of previously difficult-to-observe microscopic areas. Researchers will be able to observe in real-time how the movements of atoms and electrons change during the actual operation of semiconductor devices and battery materials.
Kim Jae-young, director of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, emphasized, "Previously, internal imaging, electronic structure, and atomic structure of materials were measured separately. With the KLS operational, a new research era will open where these three pieces of information can be analyzed simultaneously."
KBSI plans to initially establish 10 beamlines, with a long-term goal of expanding to 40. Beamlines are pathways that deliver synchrotron radiation generated by the accelerator to experimental devices. Of the initial 10 beamlines, three will be prioritized for industrial support, focusing on bio and drug development, battery and advanced materials, and semiconductor research. The remaining seven will be utilized for basic science and academic R&D.
Shin stated, "While the configuration of the initial 10 beamlines is set, we are continuously discussing with users what scientific achievements can be made at each beamline. This collaborative framework will also be applied during the construction of the additional 40 beamlines."
The project team anticipates that the KLS will offer world-class performance at a competitive price. While some countries, including China, have extended their storage rings to 1.3 to 1.4 kilometers to maximize energy and performance, the KLS is designed to deliver top performance in experimental areas primarily utilized by domestic researchers and companies.
The large-scale research data generated by the KLS is also expected to become a new research resource. Once fully operational, it is anticipated to produce about 1 petabyte (PB) of data daily, equivalent to filling approximately 1,000 personal hard drives with 1 terabyte (TB) capacity each.
KBSI plans to collaborate with related institutions, including the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, to establish a system for storing, sharing, and analyzing synchrotron data using artificial intelligence (AI). Previously, researchers analyzed data individually, but the new plan aims to utilize accumulated data collectively to derive new research results.
With the KLS operational, some of the research demand concentrated at the Pohang synchrotron is expected to be dispersed. Currently, the Pohang facility receives over 3,000 experimental proposals annually, with an average beam time competition ratio of about 2.5 to 1. However, the initial 10 beamlines may not be sufficient to meet the current demand.
Kim stated, "Even with the completion of the KLS, the issue of beam time competition may not be resolved immediately in the initial stages. Long-term, we will need to establish all 40 beamlines to significantly meet current demand." He added, "As new measurement technologies are developed, the demand for synchrotron facilities continues to grow. By the time all 40 beamlines are established, research demand may have increased even further than it is now."
Securing specialized personnel is identified as a future challenge, as the domestic workforce needed for accelerator design, operation, and beamline utilization is still insufficient. The project team plans to gradually secure personnel by leveraging accelerator training programs at universities and international researcher networks.
Shin remarked, "We are securing specialized personnel in collaboration with accelerator-related education and training programs at universities such as Chungbuk National University and Korea University. We are also attracting talented overseas researchers through networks like the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association and international synchrotron researcher networks."
He added, "Until the KLS is completed in 2029, specialized personnel from the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory will support the project. By attracting key overseas talent and nurturing domestic personnel, we believe we can secure the workforce needed for facility construction and operation."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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