Light in a Capillary: Squeezing a Beam Down to 900 Nanometers
A synchrotron beam is like a jet of water from a hose: wide and awkward for fine work. To examine a tiny sample, you need a fine needle, not a hose. In the new setup, the needle is a glass capillary — a tube through which light glides, reflecting off the walls like a voice echoing down a long corridor.