Electron Beam (IMAGE) DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Caption This is an illustration of an electron beam traveling through a niobium cavity -- a key component of SLAC's future LCLS-II X-ray laser. Kept at minus 456 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature at which niobium conducts electricity without losses, these cavities will power a highly energetic electron beam that will create up to 1 million X-ray flashes per second -- more than any other current or planned X-ray laser. Credit SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.