The European XFEL is a hard X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) based on a high-electron-energy superconducting linear accelerator. The superconducting technology allows for the acceleration of many electron bunches within one radio-frequency pulse of the accelerating voltage and, in turn, for the generation of a large number of hard X-ray pulses. We report on the performance of the European XFEL accelerator with up to 5,000 electron bunches per second and demonstrating a full energy of 17.5 GeV. Feedback mechanisms enable stabilization of the electron beam delivery at the FEL undulator in space and time. The measured FEL gain curve at 9.3 keV is in good agreement with predictions for saturated FEL radiation. Hard X-ray lasing was achieved between 7 keV and 14 keV with pulse energies of up to 2.0 mJ. Using the high repetition rate, an FEL beam with 6 W average power was created.

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A MHz-repetition-rate hard X-ray free-electron laser driven by a superconducting linear accelerator

Chromatic errors are normally corrected using sextupoles in regions of large dispersion. In low emittance linear accelerators, use of sextupoles can be challenging. Apochromatic focusing is a lesser-known alternative approach, whereby chromatic errors of Twiss parameters are corrected without the use of sextupoles, and has consequently been subject to renewed interest in advanced linear accelerator research. Proof of principle designs were first established by Montague and Ruggiero and developed more recently by Balandin et al. We describe a general method for designing drift-quadrupole beam lines of arbitrary order in apochromatic correction, including analytic expressions for emittance growth and other merit functions. Worked examples are shown for plasma wakefield accelerator staging optics and for a simple final focus system.

Design of general apochromatic drift-quadrupole beam lines

The European XFEL uses the world's largest superconducting RF installation to drive three independent SASE FELs. After eight years of construction the facility is now brought into operation. First experience with the superconducting accelerator as well as beam commissioning results will be presented. The path to the first user experiments will be laid down.

Commissioning of the European XFEL Accelerator

The dependence of emittance growth due to Coherent Synchrotron Radiation (CSR) in bunch compressor chicanes on optics has been noticed and empirically studied in the past. We revisit the subject, suggesting a model to explain slice emittance growth dependence on chicane optics. A simplified model to calculate projected emittance growth when it is mainly caused by transverse slice centroid offsets is presented. It is then used to find optimal compensation of centroid kicks in the single chicanes of a two-stage compression system by adjusting the phase advance of the transport in between and the ration of the compression factors.

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Impact of Optics on CSR-Related Emittance Growth in Bunch Compressor Chicanes

The European XFEL will be a free electron laser based on self amplified spontaneous emission in the X-ray regime. The FEL is driven by a superconducting 17.5 GeV linear accelerator, followed by 5 separate undulators both for SASE FEL radiation and incoherent radiation. Start of operation is foreseen for 2013. This paper presents the layout of the European XFEL, with an emphasis on beam dynamics issues.

The european xfel project

The European XFEL [1] bunch compressor system has been optimized for greater flexibility in parameter space. Operation beyond the XFEL design parameters is discussed in two directions: achieving the uppermost number of photons in a single pulse on one hand and reaching the necessary peak current for lasing with a pulse as short as possible on the other. Results of simulation calculations including 3D-CSR effects, space charge forces and the impact of wake fields demonstrate the potential of the XFEL for further improvement or, respectively, its safety margin for operation at design values.

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Optimized Bunch Compression System for the European XFEL

In this article we give an overview of the the post-linac collimation system for the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL) Facility with main emphasis on lattice and optics design.

Post-Linac Collimation System for the European XFEL

In this article we consider a system where a bend magnet block arranged in an achromat-like fashion is followed by a straight drift-quadrupole cell which is not a pure drift space. We formulate the necessary and sufficient conditions for this system to be a second-order achromat and show that it can be achieved using six, four or even only two sextupole families.

Second-order achromats with arbitrary linear transfer matrices

In this article we continue the study of the apochromatic Twiss parameters of straight drift-quadrupole systems with special attention given to the properties of these parameters for beamlines with symmetries.

Apochromatic twiss parameters of drift-quadrupole systems with symmetries

Though a straight drift-quadrupole system can not be made an achromat, there exists an example of a bend-free drift-quadrupole system which can transport certain incoming beam ellipses without introducing first-order chromatic distortions. In this paper we show that such a possibility is not a rare special case, but a general property. For every drift-quadrupole system there exists an unique set of Twiss parameters, which will be transported through that system without first order chromatic distortions. Moreover, we prove that at the same time these Twiss parameters minimize the absolute values of the system chromaticities and also bring the second order effect of the betatron oscillations on the longitudinal dynamics to the minimal possible value.

R. Brinkmann

Papers

Optimized Bunch Compression System for the European XFEL

Post-Linac Collimation System for the European XFEL

Second-order achromats with arbitrary linear transfer matrices

Apochromatic twiss parameters of drift-quadrupole systems with symmetries

Apochromatic Beam Transport in Drift-Quadrupole Systems