Current status and biological research ramifications of photon storage ring as a noble infrared laser source

It has been thought that the small electron storage ring of less than 50 MeV using a normal conducting magnet is useless because its critical wavelength of synchrotron radiation is only 600 nm. A small orbit radius storage ring, however, has the potential to generate micro bunches, leading to sub-pico second pulse UV light and coherent synchrotron radiation in the infra-red region. Moreover, it generates laser light of a few μm to 100 μm wavelength range with the aid of a mirror surrounding the electron orbit. This novel laser source is called the photon storage ring(PhSR) under construction. In this paper, a detailed description of the PhSR is given. A way to suppress beam instability of a low energy ring is proposed. Unique application programs for the PhSR are discussed. The usefulness of PhSR in studying living phenomena is pointed out. Continuous large output of PhSR can excite selective reactions of proteins, DNA, water in a living cell, which can open up a new research field and provide new means for cancer treatment. We propose ‘a gentle communication with living cells through far infrared signal.’ PhSR will make this possible.