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Status and prospects of x-ray free-electron lasers (X-FELs): a simple presentation

Giorgio Margaritondo
2012
Reviews

Abstract

The first part of this topical review provides the reader with a conceptual background sufficient to understand the mechanism of an X-FEL without using any formalism. The discussion is thus accessible to non-specialized scientists from any discipline. Then, we review the present status of selected X-FEL projects throughout the world. Examples of actual experiments are used to illustrate the potential impact of these new, exciting sources at the forefront of photon technology.

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Giorgio Margaritondo
2012
Reviews

Abstract

Official source

Related concepts (21)

Free-electron laser

A free-electron laser (FEL) is a (fourth generation) light source producing extremely brilliant and short pulses of radiation. An FEL functions and behaves in many ways like a laser, but instead of using stimulated emission from atomic or molecular excitations, it employs relativistic electrons as a gain medium. Radiation is generated by a bunch of electrons passing through a magnetic structure (called undulator or wiggler).

X-ray detector

X-ray detectors are devices used to measure the flux, spatial distribution, spectrum, and/or other properties of X-rays. Detectors can be divided into two major categories: imaging detectors (such as photographic plates and X-ray film (photographic film), now mostly replaced by various digitizing devices like s or flat panel detectors) and dose measurement devices (such as ionization chambers, Geiger counters, and dosimeters used to measure the local radiation exposure, dose, and/or dose rate, for example, for verifying that radiation protection equipment and procedures are effective on an ongoing basis).

Photon

A photon () is an elementary particle that is a quantum of the electromagnetic field, including electromagnetic radiation such as light and radio waves, and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force. Photons are massless, so they always move at the speed of light in vacuum, 299792458m/s (or about ). The photon belongs to the class of boson particles. As with other elementary particles, photons are best explained by quantum mechanics and exhibit wave–particle duality, their behavior featuring properties of both waves and particles.

Related publications (4)

Status and prospects of x-ray free-electron lasers (X-FELs): a simple presentation

Chat with Graph Search

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