The Linac
Coherent Light Source Project
at SLAC
The Linac Coherent Light
Source (LCLS) is an x-ray free-electron laser project presently under
construction at SLAC. A 14-GeV high-brightness
electron beam is produced in the last kilometer of the existing SLAC linear
accelerator, generating coherent x-ray radiation in a 130-m long
undulator. The peak x-ray brightness is
10 orders of magnitude higher than existing 3rd generation light sources with a
wavelength of 1.5 Angstroms and a pulse duration as short as one femtosecond,
opening limitless scientific opportunities in the world of the ultra-small and
ultra-fast. This presentation will describe
the project scope and status, highlighting especially the key accelerator
physics challenges.