Research and development toward a 4.5−1.5 Å linac coherent light source (LCLS) at SLAC

In recent years significant studies have been initiated on the feasibility of utilizing a portion of the 3 km S-band accelerator at SLAC to drive a short wavelength (4.5−1.5 Å) Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), a Free-Electron Laser (FEL) operating in the Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE) regime. Electron beam requirements for single-pass saturation in a minimal time include: 1) a peak current in the 7 kA range, 2) a relative energy spread of <0.05%, and 3) a transverse emittance, ε [rad-m], approximating the diffraction-limit condition ε = λ4π, where λ[m] is the output wavelength. Requirements on the insertion device include field error levels of 0.02% for keeping the electron bunch centered on and in phase with the amplified photons, and a focusing beta of 8 m/rad for inhibiting the dilution of its transverse density. Although much progress has been made in developing individual components and beam-processing techniques necessary for LCLS operation down to ∼20 Å, a substantial amount of research and development is still required in a number of theoretical and experimental areas leading to the construction and operation of a 4.5−1.5 Å LCLS. In this paper we report on a research and development program underway and in planning at SLAC for addressing critical questions in these areas. These include the construction and operation of a linac test stand for developing laser-driven photocathode rf guns with normalized emittances approaching 1 mm-mrad; development of advanced beam compression, stability, and emittance control techniques at multi-GeV energies; the construction and operation of a FEL Amplifier Test Experiment (FATE) for theoretical and experimental studies of SASE at IR wavelengths; an undulator development program to investigate superconducting, hybrid/permanent magnet (hybrid/PM), and pulsed-Cu technologies; theoretical and computational studies of high-gain FEL physics and LCLS component designs; development of X-ray optics and instrumentation for extracting, modulating, and delivering photons to experimental users; and the study and development of scientific experiments made possible by the source properties of the LCLS.