Meeting the long-felt need for in-depth information on one of the most advanced material characterization methods, a top team of editors and authors from highly prestigious facilities and institutions covers a range of synchrotron techniques that have proven useful for materials research. Following an introduction to synchrotron radiation and its sources, the second part goes on to describe the various techniques that benefit from this especially bright light, including X-ray absorption, diffraction, scattering, imaging, and lithography. The thrid and final part provides an overview of the applications of synchrotron radiation in materials science. bridging the gap between specialists in synchrotron research and material scientists, this is a unique and indispensable resource for academic and industrial researchers alike.