Located in the heart of the Paris-Saclay cluster, some twenty kilometers from Paris, SOLEIL is the French synchrotron radiation source. Opened to users since 2008, it covers a very broad energy range, from far infrared to hard X-rays, thanks to 29 beamlines offering complementary experimental techniques. SOLEIL is a third-generation light source, recognized for its high reliability and stability, and was the first in the world to operate in top-up mode. It welcomes more than 5000 users from all around the world every year. Since 2025, SOLEIL has also been offering its users a Cryo-EM Titan Krios.
In parallel with the operation, SOLEIL’s teams (around 400 staff) are preparing the construction of a diffraction-limited storage ring and a major upgrade of the beamlines and their environment, within the SOLEIL II project. The current facility will continue to operate until autumn 2028. SOLEIL II is scheduled to start up in 2030, with a gradual ramp-up until 2035.
Latest News From SOLEIL
Nanoparticle self-assembly in levitated drying droplets 2026/09/09
How microscopic plankton played a major role in the formation of limestone in the Cretaceous seas 2026/08/21
Observing skyrmionic cocoons in three dimensions 2026/07/15
UK and France launch biomedical and AI health alliance to accelerate research into major diseases 2026/05/29
Specification
Energy: 2,75 GeV
Current: 500 mA (max)
Operational Beamlines: 29
Horizontal emittance: 3.9 nm.rad
Vertical emittance: 39 pm.rad (1% coupling)
Call for Proposals
Standard proposals: two calls per year, issued with deadlines of 15 February and 15 September, each for a six month period.
BAG proposals: one call per year, with deadline of 15 September; 1 year duration.
BAG MX-BioSAXS: one call per year, with deadline of 15 September; 2 years duration.