Eugene Tan

Accelerator Physicist
Australian Synchrotron Project,
Melbourne

Bachelor of Science (Honours)

"At the ASP we are building a machine called a synchrotron that will accelerate electrons nearly to the speed of light and store them in a storage ring".

During my undergraduate years at Monash University I studied a range of subjects in mathematics, computer science and physics. I enjoyed learning about how our physical world works and the wonderful intricacies of mathematics. Equally important to me were the fun times I had getting involved with the numerous sporting and social clubs at the university. In 2002 I graduated with a B. Science (Honours) in physics.

Shortly after graduating I was offered the opportunity to join a team of Accelerator Physicists at the Australian Synchrotron Project (ASP). Such physicists specialise in knowing how particles can be manipulated into energetic beams or stored in a circular storage rings. At the ASP we are building a machine called a synchrotron that will accelerate electrons nearly to the speed of light and store them in a storage ring. These electrons are then used to generate synchrotron light, which are very intense beams of electromagnetic radiation used by scientists to conduct experiments. My job is to be familiar with the particulars of how a synchrotron achieves this, and more importantly to be able to perform experiments and discover how to further optimise the properties of the stored electrons.