Wiggler (synchrotron) facts for kids
A wiggler is a special device used inside a large machine called a synchrotron. Imagine it as a series of strong magnets. These magnets are designed to make a beam of tiny charged particles, like electrons, wiggle back and forth as they travel. When these particles wiggle, they give off a special kind of bright light called synchrotron radiation.
Even though synchrotrons already make light when their main magnets bend the particles in a circle, a wiggler makes this light much brighter and more powerful.
How a Wiggler Works
A wiggler produces a wider range of light colors compared to another device called an undulator. In a wiggler, the strength and pattern of the magnetic field are not perfectly matched to the light that each electron makes. This means that every electron in the beam gives off light on its own, which creates a broad mix of light.
You can think of a wiggler as many bending magnets placed one after another. The more magnets a wiggler has, the brighter and more intense the light it produces.
Wiggler Design
Often, the magnets inside a wiggler are arranged in a special way called a Halbach array. This arrangement helps to create a very strong and focused magnetic field. The design shown in the picture above is a good example of what's known as a Halbach wiggler.
See also
In Spanish: Wiggler para niños
