Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron

What Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron does

LNLS (Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron), founded in 1984 in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, operates Sirius — one of only three fourth-generation synchrotron light sources globally and the sole such facility in Latin America. The institution is a private non-profit research laboratory under CNPEM (Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais), supervised by Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). Its core asset is the Sirius synchrotron: a 3 GeV storage ring spanning 518 meters in circumference with a 20-cell 5BA magnetic lattice designed to achieve 0.25 nm rad emittance, currently operating at 200 mA with a planned upgrade to 350 mA using superconducting RF cavities.

The facility operates 10 beamlines currently open to external users, with plans to expand to a total of 38 beamlines. Each beamline is specialized for distinct analytical techniques, including X-ray nanoprobe imaging (Carnaúba, the longest at 143m), coherent X-ray scattering (Cateretê), circular dichroism spectroscopy (Cedro), powder diffraction (Paineira), macromolecular crystallography (Manacá), micro/nanotomography (Mogno), infrared microspectroscopy (Imbuia), soft X-ray spectroscopy (Sabiá), resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (Ipê), and extreme-condition experiments (Ema). Supporting facilities include laboratories for biological, microscopic, and extreme thermodynamic sample preparation. Notable recent capabilities include the Sapoti experimental station at Carnaúba achieving approximately 1-nanometer resolution and the Tatu beamline, the world's first designed for terahertz nano-spectroscopy at a fourth-generation synchrotron.

LNLS operates as an open-access multi-user research facility, providing beamtime free of charge to researchers via peer-reviewed proposal submissions through the SAU Online system. Revenue derives from government allocations — primarily MCTI, supplemented by São Paulo's FAPESP and CNPq — with no commercial user fees. The facility serves approximately 1,200 researchers annually across 400+ projects, with demand materially exceeding capacity (375 proposals, 119 selected in the sixth call for first-half 2026). Strategic partnerships extend industrial and international relevance: Petrobras (pre-salt oil reservoir imaging via Mogno), Paul Scherrer Institute (undulator technology transfer), Robert Koch Institute (Orion NB4 laboratory cooperation), and Brazilian industry (85% nationalization of Sirius construction). The Orion project — Latin America's first NB4 biosafety laboratory linked to a synchrotron — represents the next major expansion of the facility's scientific footprint.

Name

Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron

Legal name

Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron

Website

https://lnls.cnpem.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LNLS, founded in 1984 in Campinas, Brazil, operates Sirius — one of only three fourth-generation synchrotron light sources globally — serving Brazilian and international scientific and industrial researchers through free, peer-reviewed beamtime access across 10 specialized beamlines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Campinas

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: LNLS is part of CNPEM, a private non-profit research institution supervised by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). Operations are funded through government allocations. Facilities are provided free of charge to researchers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LNLS operates Sirius, a 4th-generation synchrotron light source located at the CNPEM campus in Campinas, Brazil. The facility uses electron accelerators to produce extremely bright synchrotron light for investigating the molecular, atomic, and electronic structure of matter. It provides researchers with access to multiple specialized beamlines for X-ray microscopy, crystallography, spectroscopy, tomography, and scattering experiments, supported by sample preparation laboratories and user support services.

Product overview

LNLS operates Sirius, Brazil's 4th generation synchrotron light source at the CNPEM research center in Campinas, São Paulo. Sirius is a large-scale scientific infrastructure (not a commercial product) that uses electron accelerators to produce extremely bright light for investigating matter at atomic and molecular scales. The facility comprises the main synchrotron light source and 24+ named beamlines (experimental stations), each specialized for different analytical techniques including X-ray microscopy, diffraction, spectroscopy, tomography, and scattering. Supporting laboratories provide sample preparation services for biological, environmental, cryogenic, and extreme condition experiments. The facility operates through the SAU Online platform for user proposals and scheduling. A major expansion project (Orion) is underway for biosafety-level research facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sirius: The new Brazilian synchrotron light source - the largest and most complex scientific infrastructure in Brazil, and one of the most advanced 4th generation synchrotron light sources in the world.

Products and services

• Sirius Synchrotron Light Source The 4th generation synchrotron light source operated by LNLS, a large-scale scientific infrastructure that uses electron accelerators to produce extremely bright light for investigating the composition and structure of matter at atomic and molecular scales. Used by academic and industrial researchers across multiple scientific disciplines.
• Carnaúba Beamline The longest beamline at Sirius (143m) dedicated to X-ray nanoprobe experiments, offering nanometer-scale spatial resolutions for simultaneous multi-technique analysis including diffraction, spectroscopy, fluorescence, and luminescence. Used by researchers across materials science, nanotechnology, and structural biology.
• Cateretê Beamline Coherent X-ray scattering beamline offering unique capabilities for imaging and dynamics studies of biological materials and condensed matter, focusing on coherent X-ray scattering and diffraction techniques. For academic and industrial researchers.
• Cedro Beamline Circular Dichroism beamline dedicated to spectroscopy in the ultraviolet region, used for structural analysis of chiral molecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. Serves structural biology and pharmaceutical research communities.
• Ema Beamline Extreme conditions beamline for X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction, designed for studying materials under extreme thermodynamic conditions including high pressure, temperature, and magnetic field. Used by condensed matter and materials science researchers.
• Imbuia Beamline Infrared micro and nano-spectroscopy beamline operating in the mid-infrared range, enabling compositional analysis of materials with emphasis on biological and synthetic organic materials. Used by life sciences and materials characterization researchers.
• Ipê Beamline Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (RIXS) and Photoelectron Spectroscopy beamline optimized for high-resolution RIXS and XPS techniques applied to chemical composition, electronic structure, and elementary excitations studies. Used by researchers in chemistry, materials science, and condensed matter physics.
• Manacá Beamline Macro and nanocrystallography beamline, the first at Sirius optimized for micrometric and sub-micrometric focus, dedicated to studying three-dimensional structures of macromolecules and small molecules. Used by structural biologists and pharmaceutical researchers.
• Mogno Beamline Micro and nano X-ray tomography beamline dedicated to acquiring three-dimensional images of different materials at multiple scales, quickly and non-invasively, with resolutions reaching 200 nanometers. Used by industrial researchers and academic scientists across multiple disciplines.
• Paineira Beamline Powder X-ray diffraction beamline optimized for polycrystalline materials characterization in Debye-Scherrer geometry, operating in high-throughput mode for large sample quantities. Used by materials science and chemistry researchers.
• Sabiá Beamline Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and imaging beamline operating in the soft X-ray range with polarization control undulators and flat grating monochromator, enabling XAS and PEEM analyses. Used by materials science and surface chemistry researchers.
• Tatu Beamline Terahertz and far-infrared tip-enhanced ultramicroscopy beamline dedicated to spectroscopy and imaging in the far-infrared range, enabling analysis of optical conductivity, doping of nanotransistors, and plasmonics in topological insulators. Used by nanotechnology and condensed matter researchers.
• Laboratório de Amostras Biológicas (LAB) Biological samples laboratory providing support in preparing biological samples of various natures, from simple biological materials to cell cultures and human fluid manipulation. Support service for beamline users conducting biological and biomedical research.
• Laboratório de Amostras Microscópicas (LAM) Microscopic samples laboratory serving as support for beamlines, focused on preparing advanced samples using electron and optical microscopy techniques. Support service for beamline users requiring microscopic sample preparation.
• Laboratório de Condições Termodinâmicas Extremas (LCTE) Extreme thermodynamic conditions laboratory dedicated to developing scientific instrumentation and supporting experiments requiring high pressure, magnetic field, and temperature variation environments. Support service for beamline users requiring extreme condition sample preparation.
• SAU Online Online system for user proposal submission, experiment scheduling, safety training, and user support services for the Sirius synchrotron facility. Used by researchers to apply for beamtime access.
• Sapucaia Beamline Beamline dedicated to Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) technique. Used by researchers studying nanostructures, macromolecules, and materials at the mesoscopic scale.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of continuous operation and development since LNLS founding in 1984
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Robert Koch InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Delegation visit to CNPEM to discuss Orion project cooperation. Follows a cooperation agreement signed in Berlin covering joint research, training, and support for Orion - Latin America's first NB4 lab and first globally linked to a synchrotron light source.
• PetrobrasmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2021Partnership for developing 3D imaging capabilities for pre-salt rock samples using the Mogno beamline. Includes installation of microstation capable of handling up to 88 samples automatically, digital rock database development using AI for reservoir characterization, and post-processing algorithm development. First phase completed November 2024.
• Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational collaboration for acquisition of elliptical undulator (EPU) from Swiss Light Source. The 3.4-meter, 17.5-ton undulator was previously operated at SLS and was made available during their magnetic lattice upgrade. Includes joint scientific activities during PSI facility updates.
• Brazilian IndustrycoreTechnology or IntegrationLocal industry partnerships achieved 85% nationalization index in Sirius project through development of accelerator components, beamline instrumentation, and civil construction. Stimulated domestic technology development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory: U.S. flagship synchrotron light source at Argonne National Lab currently undergoing APS-U upgrade to a 4th-generation multi-bend achromat lattice. Direct peer serving materials science, biology, and energy research communities with overlapping beamline-based analytical techniques.
• MAX IV Laboratory: Sweden-based 4th-generation synchrotron light source inaugurated 2016, the world's first diffraction-limited storage ring. Direct competitor to Sirius in the small global pool of 4th-gen facilities, serving Nordic and international scientific users with similar beamline portfolio.
• Diamond Light Source: UK's national synchrotron facility operating a 3 GeV storage ring with extensive beamline portfolio. Operates as a multi-user science facility with similar peer-reviewed access model and comparable science applications to Sirius.
• PETRA III / DESY: Germany's high-brilliance synchrotron radiation facility at DESY, among the most productive light sources globally. Comparable as a multi-user, multi-beamline synchrotron serving European and international researchers with X-ray analytical methods.
• SOLEIL Synchrotron: France-based 3 GeV synchrotron light source serving French and international scientific community. Directly comparable multi-user facility with analogous beamline techniques and peer-reviewed proposal access model.
• ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility): France-based 4th-generation synchrotron light source (ESRF-EBS), one of only three 4th-gen machines alongside Sirius and MAX IV. Directly comparable as a multi-user research facility offering analogous beamline-based analytical techniques to similar academic and industrial users.
• SPring-8 / JASRI: Japan's leading 8 GeV synchrotron radiation facility, one of the world's brightest light sources. Direct competitor in advanced materials, structural biology, and industrial research with globally comparable beamline portfolio.
• National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven: U.S. Department of Energy 3 GeV synchrotron light source at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Comparable as a multi-user, government-funded synchrotron research facility providing X-ray analytical capabilities across similar scientific domains.

Regional players

• ALBA Synchrotron: Spain's 3 GeV synchrotron light source serving the Iberian and broader European scientific community. Operates a comparable multi-user beamline facility model; competes for European industrial users but is geographically distinct from Sirius's Latin American base.
• Canadian Light Source (CLS): Canada's national synchrotron facility operating a 2.9 GeV light source serving primarily Canadian and select international researchers. Comparable multi-user research infrastructure model, but serves a different geographic catchment than Sirius in Latin America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lnls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laborat%C3%B3rio-nacional-de-luz-s%C3%ADncrotron

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron