The X-Band FEL Collaboration

Abstract

The X-band FEL collaboration is currently designing an X-ray free-electron laser based on X-band acceleration technology. Due to the higher accelerating gradients achievable with X-band technology, a X-band normal conducting linac can be shorter and therefore potentially cost efficient than what is achievable with lower frequency structures. This cost reduction of future FEL facilities addresses the growing demand of the user community for coherent X-rays. The X-band FEL collaboration consists of 12 institutes and universities that jointly work on the preparation of design reports for the specific FEL projects. In this paper, we report on the on-going activities, the basic parameter choice, and the integrated simulation results. We also outline the interest of the X-band FEL collaboration to use the electron linac CALIFES at CERN to test FEL concepts and technologies relevant for the X-band FEL collaboration