X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) is an X-ray combining the features of
lasers at the free electron state. It may be the most promising light source
for
the next generation of scientific exploration and discovery.
X-rays are well known from their uses in medicine, but they are also
widely used in advanced science. When observing objects, nothing smaller
than the
wavelength of the light can be seen. To observe smaller objects, a shorter
wavelength needs to be used. Using X-rays even the individual atoms of
an object can be seen. SPring-8, in Hyogo prefecture, can produce the
brightest
light in the world over a wide range of wavelengths including X-rays,
and is being used in life science and materials science research.
The X-rays produced at SPring-8 are ten billion times brighter than
the sun. However, the peaks and troughs of the light waves are not aligned.
Laser light
is light with its waves aligned. The light produced by the XFEL will be a billion
times brighter than SPring-8. A brighter light will be a major step forward
and enable us to observe faster movement in a smaller region.
In Japan, the SPring-8 Joint Project between RIKEN and JASRI has been
developing the XFEL with the aim of completing it in fiscal 2010. The
prototype accelerator
which succeeded in creating a laser beam this time has basically the same structure
as the XFEL itself will, and was designed for use in demonstration experiments
that can check the component technologies needed for the actual XFEL.
XFEL -the dream light source- that has both laser and radiation light characteristics.
The XFEL facility will be next to SPring-8 (the circle building).
