Session J8: Invited Session: International Photon Science Facilities

European XFEL Progress and Plans

The European XFEL is a multi-user X-ray laser facility. With its 1.7 km long super-conducting linear accelerator it will provide X-ray laser pulses up to 24 keV at a repetition rate of 4.5 MHz. Currently, the facility is under construction in Hamburg and Schenefeld, Germany. First lasing is expected to be possible by the end of 2016. In this presentation, an overview of the status of construction is given and plans on commissioning and user activities are presented. Technical challenges in the area of photon transport and experiments will be discussed.   

The LCLS-II Project at SLAC

The Linac Coherent Light Source-II (LCLS-II) Project will add capability and capacity to the LCLS facility. The design of the Project presents interesting challenges. The Project will construct a 4 GeV CW superconducting (SC) linac in the first kilometer of the existing SLAC linac tunnel and a substantial cryogenics plant to supply it. Two new variable gap undulators will be placed in the existing LCLS undulator hall, one optimized as a soft x-ray (200-1,300 eV) source will receive electrons from the new SC linac, the other replacing the existing LCLS undulator will receive electrons either simultaneously from the new SC linac (providing 1-5 keV photons) or the 120 Hz copper linac presently used by LCLS (providing 1-25 keV x-rays). The bright x-ray beams are conditioned before they are delivered to experimental stations. First light from the new facility is expected late in 2019.