Studying species isolated from substrates or the environment allows access to the basic quantum mechanical nature of matter – electronic and vibrational energy levels, yielding insight into structure and dynamics. Species can range from atoms and simple molecules to ions, radicals, biomolecules, clusters, nanoparticles and species dissolved in solution.
Light – matter interaction is key to understanding our world, ranging from the quantum world of electrons, atoms and molecules to interstellar neutral and ionic species. Information about this wide variety of isolated species is conveyed to us by the absorption of light, leading to excitation of electronic and nuclear motion and yielding knowledge of the chemical species, electronic energy levels, electron and nuclear dynamics and chemical reactivity. Measurements performed in the Fundamental Processes in Isolated Systems section are targeted at this key interaction and further understanding the basic properties of simple forms of matter isolated from any interacting environment. Studying fundamental building blocks of matter isolated from the environment allows access to their unperturbed electronic energy levels which can be used to validate and improve quantum mechanical theoretical calculations and models leading to a deeper insight into the forces driving chemical reactions and the structure and properties of materials.
Beamlines of the section
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Contact
Head of Section: John Bozek - john.bozek@synchrotron-soleil.fr
Scientific Techniques
Photon absorption
- Infrared, VUV and X-ray absorption
- Circular dichroism
Photoionization
- Ion detection:
- ion yield
- mass spectroscopy
- Electron detection:
- photoelectron spectroscopy (PES)
- Auger spectroscopy (AES)
- photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD)
- Electron – ion coincidence detection:
- Photoelectron – photoion coincidences (PEPICO)
- Photon detection:
- Optical, UV fluorescence
- X-ray emission (XES)
- Resonant Inelastic scattering (RIXS)
An international team including scientists from the IPANEMA Institute and the PUMA beamline has revealed that a 300-million-year-old fossil, previously thought to be the oldest known octopus, is in fact a very different animal: a nautiloid.
This study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, resolves a major evolutionary paradox by confirming a much more recent origin for modern octopuses, while providing unique insights into the poorly-known soft tissues of nautiloids.
Warning: this event will only be held in French
On Friday, May 29, 2026, for the 13th edition of SOLEIL de Minuit, the synchrotron SOLEIL will open its doors for night tours of its facilities, from 6 p.m. to midnight. Come and discover this high-tech installation, discuss with all the people who work at SOLEIL (even at night) and visit their workplace!
Second Call Now Open – Apply by 15 July 2026
Located on the Paris-Saclay plateau, about 20 kilometers from the capital, the SOLEIL synchrotron is one of France's leading research facilities. Since it began operating in 2008, it has served the national and international scientific communities. Research conducted at SOLEIL covers a wide range of scientific and industrial fields — including physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, environmental science, Earth sciences, and cultural and natural heritage — all connected to current societal challenges.
The 10th edition of the ‘Crystallography and Large Scale Facilities’ school will take place at the SOLEIL synchrotron site in Saint-Aubin from 2 to 6 Novem
Located on the Paris-Saclay plateau, about 20 kilometers from the capital, the SOLEIL synchrotron is one of France's leading research facilities. Since it began operating in 2008, it has served the national and international scientific communities. Research conducted at SOLEIL covers a wide range of scientific and industrial fields — including physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, environmental science, Earth sciences, and cultural and natural heritage — all connected to current societal challenges.
Through a series of portraits, Synchrotron SOLEIL meets the men and women who bring the synchrotron to life. For this seventh episode, Damien Jeangérard, control room operator, agreed to take part. His main mission? To ensure the smooth operation of the electron accelerators so that scientists on the beamlines can successfully carry out their experiments. A strategic role at the very heart of the synchrotron, where no two days are alike and learning never stops. Much to his delight.
We are pleased to announce the first workshop on Frontiers in Science at 4th generation synchrotron facilities, to be held October 12th & 13th, 2026 at