WEA01
FEL/Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
Since mid 1990s, oscillator FELs have been used to produce x-rays and gamma-rays via Compton scattering. These FELs are based on several accelerator technologies, including room-temperature and superconducting linacs and storage rings. The most successful Compton sources are operated in the gamma-ray region, beyond the reach of synchrotron radiation sources and x-ray FELs. With almost two decades of continued effort, High Intensity Gamma-ray Source (HIGS) at Duke University has been developed into a world-leading Compton gamma-ray facility for frontier research in nuclear physics and astrophysics, and applied research in national security and industry. The two outstanding features of the HIGS are (1) a wide energy range of operation from 1 to 100 MeV; and (2) an exceptionally high flux in the few MeV to 10 MeV region. At the HIGS, the further development of the oscillator FEL will lead to new gamma-ray beam capabilities. Research to develop a VUV FEL at 170 or 150 nm will allow the production of gamma-rays up to ~160 MeV. Research on the FEL beam polarization will lead to the production of gamma-ray beams with switchable helicity and rotatable linear polarization.
