P 58 ISSRNS 2012: Abstracts / Synchrotron Radiation in Natural Science Vol. 11, No 1 – 2 (2012)
XFEL — EUROPEAN X-RAY FREE ELECTRON LASER
R. Sobierajski1∗, J.B. Pe lka1, R. Nietuby´c2,3, G. Wrochna2, and J. Sekutowicz4
1Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Lotnik´ow 32/46, PL–02668 Warsaw, Poland
2National Centre for Nuclear Studies, PL–05400 Otwock- ´Swierk, Poland
3National Synchrotron Radiation Centre “Solaris,” Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7/p.1.6, PL–30387 Krak´ow, Poland
4Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, D–22607 Hamburg, Germany
Keywords: Free Electron Laser, THz sources, 4thgeneration sources
∗e-mail : sobieraj@ifpan.edu.pl
Free Electron Lasers (FEL) are numbered among the most powerful sources of monochromatic pulsed radiation, tunable over a wide wavelength range.
Many properties of radiation generated by opti- cal lasers and by FEL sources are similar to each other, though these devices are based on different principles. In fact, free electron lasers are more like a synchrotron radiation (SR) sources. The SASE (Self Amplified Spontaneous Emission) pro- cess forms the basis of high gain FELs (known as SASE-FELs), making it possible to generate ex- tremely strong, femtosecond pulses of radiation in the short wavelength range, up to the hard X- rays. SASE-FELs create a new class of 4th gen- eration SR sources, with their spectral brightness that exceeds the brightest known 3rd generation synchrotron radiation sources by more than eight orders of magnitude.
The European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL), built in Hamburg, will be the largest and most advanced 4th generation source of short- wavelength synchrotron radiation, with an unprece- dented combination of properties and a radically new research opportunities. After starting in 2015, it will generate very strong femtosecond pulses of
coherent monochromatic X-rays in a wavelength range down to 0.1 nm.
The peak power of radiation pulse will reach up to several GW, which corresponds to the peak spectral brightness of the order of 1033 photons/s/mm2/mrad2/0.1% BW. This value ex- ceeds by more than 108 times the brightness of X-rays generated by the most powerful 3rd gener- ation synchrotron sources currently operating. Like all free electron lasers, XFEL is fully tunable. Gen- erated radiation is characterized by, among others, total polarization, high collimation and a high de- gree of spatial coherence.
The contribution is aimed at presenting the concept of the XFEL and its basic elements, such as a linear electron accelerator, undulators and experimental beamlines. The new revolutionary possibilities of excitation of exotic states of mat- ter (warm dense plasma) and, above all, opportu- nity to study the structure and dynamics of con- densed matter with atomic spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution has become important prereq- uisites for a decision on building a European X-ray free electron laser XFEL. In this project participates also Poland.
142
