Overview

The study of the interaction between light and matter has played a fundamental role in the development of natural sciences. Synchrotron radiation has characteristics of intensity, width and continuity of \Jave length range, time structure, tunability and polarization which are far superior to those of most other sources. It is possible with synchrotron radiation to perform experiments Jhich could previously be only thought about and to routinely carry out measureEents Jhich were once made only with great dif- ficulties. The study of the enormously complicated but imF-ensely interesting biological structures seems to be particularly suited to this new approach. The above considerations lead us to consider the opportunity of critically discussing the achievements and perspectives of the use of synchrotron radiation in biology and presenting them to a selected audience within the framework of an advanced school. From the very beginning we were encouraged in our initiative by many discussions with colleagues in the Rome area, who were later to become r.: .embers of the Scientific Committee of this Course. \oie were fully aware that y of the results obtained so far were of a pre- liminary nature; we feIt, however, that they were sufficiently promising to justify this venture, which seemed particularly im- portant in consideration of the increasing nur.: .ber of centers, where synchrotron radiation is becoming available.