MOOB02
Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
RI Research Instruments GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
HZDR, Dresden, Germany
Early 2011 we commenced the assembly of FLARE, the Free-electron Laser for Advanced spectroscopy and high-Resolution Experiments, in its dedicated, new building. FLARE will operate as a pulsed FEL in the 100-1500 micron range and is, amongst others, intended for spectroscopy in very high magnetic fields and (bio) molecular spectroscopy [1, 2]. After completion of the move of FELIX and FELICE to the Radboud University, FLARE will operate as part of the FELIX facility Nijmegen. Challenging in the design, assembly and operation of the FLARE cavity are the parallel plate waveguide that extends over the full cavity length and the outcoupling slit. In June 2011 the commissioning of the accelerator and optical cavity of FLARE was started, resulting in first lasing on September 26 of 2011. Since then, FLARE demonstrated lasing between 100 micron and 1400 micron at output powers meeting the design values. Until the end of 2012, the optical distribution system serving all the user-stations as well as the high field magnets in the neighboring HFML will be assembled, after which FLARE will come on-line as part of the new user facility in Nijmegen.
[1] W.J. van der Zande, et. Al. Proc. FEL 2006, Berlin, Germany,
(2006) 485.
[2] R.T. Jongma, et al., Proc. FEL-2008, Gyeongju, South Korea, (2008) 200.
