A Next Generation XFEL

These reports set out the science and technology case for UK access to next‑generation X‑ray Free‑Electron Laser (XFEL) capability and provide an analysis of the options for achieving this, including a conceptual facility design. They describe the requirements of the UK community, the potential industrial impacts of access to this capability, the features of a location‑agnostic facility design, and the international routes through which the UK could secure access to next‑generation XFEL capability to meet growing demand for these uniquely powerful light sources.

Documents

A Next Generation XFEL Overview

Download the Next Generation XFEL overview document now, this document provides a condensed overview of the full reports.

Science Case Overview

UK XFEL

An X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) combines the properties of X-ray sources with the properties of lasers. A next generation XFEL would improve the quality of the X-rays, producing millions of X-ray pulses each second. It would serve many more experiments at once, benefitting the entire science community and industrial partners.

Welcome to the UK XFEL programme.   

Over the last three years, STFC, along with UK academics, have been investigating options to deliver an advanced next-generation X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) facility. This has been done through deep consultation with the UK Scientific community. This work is laid out across three reports:

Science and Technology Case of a Next Generation XFEL
Conceptual Design of a Next Generation XFEL
Options Analysis for the UK of a Next Generation XFEL

These reports set out the science and technology case for UK access to next‑generation X‑ray Free‑Electron Laser (XFEL) capability and provide an analysis of the options for achieving this, including a conceptual facility design. They describe the requirements of the UK community, the potential industrial impacts of access to this capability, the features of a location‑agnostic facility design, and the international routes through which the UK could secure access to next‑generation XFEL capability to meet growing demand for these uniquely powerful light sources.

UK XFEL – scien​ce opportunities

High brightness ultra-fast x-ray pulses from an X-ray FEL allow the simultaneous imaging of atomic scale structure, electronic state and dynamics in a material. There is no other technology that can do that. The unique science opportunities that these machines can open-up include: 

  • access to structural dynamics 
  • new modes of nanoscopic imaging 
  • access to transient states 
  • the potential to capture rare events 

These are broadly applicable capabilities that provide a completely new window into matter and dynamics with impact across a wide landscape of science and technology. They will be used alongside other modalities to increase our abilities to probe and control matter.