Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The extraordinary properties of SR have opened up new horizons for all techniques which use vacuum ultraviolet light and X‐rays. In this article, some applications of SR in materials science have been discussed. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy is a local, atom specific probe of the geometrical and electronic structure of the absorbing species. As an example, the lattice site location and the valence of Co in a doped high‐<jats:italic>T</jats:italic><jats:sub>c</jats:sub>, superconductor YBa<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Cu<jats:sub>2–5</jats:sub>Co<jats:sub>0–5</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>7–4</jats:sub> has been discussed.</jats:p>