What does Xfel stand for?
X-ray free-electron lasers
X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) are the first lightsources that are able to routinely generate coherent, ultra-brilliant, tunable laser pulses in the X-ray regime.
Where is Xfel?
Location. The European XFEL is located mainly in underground tunnels which can be accessed on three different sites. The 3.4 kilometre-long facility runs from the DESY campus in Hamburg to the town of Schenefeld in Schleswig-Holstein.
How does an XFEL work?
In these resonators, an oscillating microwave transfers its energy to the electrons. The resonators are made of the metal niobium and are superconducting: When they are cooled to a temperature of -271 degrees Celsius, they lose their electrical resistance.
What type of laser has the widest frequency range?
free-electron laser
The free-electron laser has the widest frequency range of any laser type, and can be widely tunable, currently ranging in wavelength from microwaves, through terahertz radiation and infrared, to the visible spectrum, to ultraviolet, to X-rays.
How synchrotron radiation is produced?
Synchrotron radiation is produced by charged particles traveling at relativistic speeds forced to travel along curved paths by applied magnetic fields. High-speed electrons circulating at constant energy in synchrotron storage rings produce X-rays.
How does electron laser work?
To make bright pulses of light, a free electron laser starts with a bunch of electrons and accelerates them to nearly the speed of light. The electrons are then fed into an undulator or wiggler, a series of magnets that deflect the electrons causing them to radiate energy.
Why do lasers require mirrors?
Placing mirrors at opposite ends of a laser cavity enables the beam to travel back and forth, which results in increased amplification due to the longer path length through the medium.
Where is the largest synchrotron in the world?
The largest synchrotron-type accelerator, also the largest particle accelerator in the world, is the 27-kilometre-circumference (17 mi) Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva, Switzerland, built in 2008 by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).
Why is synchrotron light useful?
Perhaps one of the best-known applications of synchrotron light is in medical and pharmaceutical research. The high intensity of this light allows for the study of disease mechanisms, high-resolution imaging, and advances in microbiology and cancer radiation therapy.