• K.L. Ferguson, C.W. Bennett, W.B. Colson, J.R. Harris, J.W. Lewellen, S.P. Niles, B. Rusnak, R. Swent
  NPS, Monterey, California
• T.I. Smith
  Stanford University, Stanford, California

The new experimental facilities for the Naval Postgraduate School Beam Physics Lab are at the 95% completion level for exterior construction, and work has begun on the internal lab spaces. A general timeline for the commencement of first experiments is presented, along with an overview of the experimental path forward. The NPS-BPL is rated for considerably higher average powers (40 kW) than most university accelerator facilities, which presents unique challenges in both the physical and administrative realms. Design considerations, radiation approval processes and other “lessons learned” in a non-U.S. Department of Energy government facility are discussed.

• W.B. Colson, Y.H. Bae, J. Blau, K.J. Cohn
  NPS, Monterey, California

Thirty-four years after the first operation of the short wavelength free electron laser (FEL) at Stanford University, there continue to be many important experiments, proposed experiments, and user facilities around the world. Properties of FELs in the infrared, visible, UV, and x-ray wavelength regimes are tabulated and discussed.

• S.P. Niles, W.B. Colson, K.L. Ferguson, J.R. Harris, J.W. Lewellen, B. Rusnak, R. Swent
  NPS, Monterey, California
• C.H. Boulware, T.L. Grimm, J.L. Hollister
  Niowave, Inc., Lansing, Michigan
• P.R. Cunningham, M.S. Curtin, D.C. Miccolis, D.J. Sox
  Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington State
• T.I. Smith
  Stanford University, Stanford, California

The Naval Postgraduate School Beam Physics Laboratory, Niowave, Inc., and The Boeing Company have completed construction of a superconducting 500 MHz quarter-wave gun and photocathode drive laser system. This prototype gun went from conception to initial operation in just under one calendar year. Such rapid progress is due in part to the decision to develop the gun as a prototype, deliberately omitting some features, such as tuners and cathode loadlocks, desired for a linac beam source. This will enable validation of the basic concept for the gun, including high-charge bunch dynamics, as rapidly as possible, with lessons learned applied to the next generation gun. This paper presents results from initial testing of the gun, technical challenges of the prototype design, and improvements that would enhance capabilities in future versions of this novel design.