DESY, Hamburg, Germany
The European X-ray Free Electron Laser* in Hamburg, Germany, is being constructed by an international consortium. The facility is being built to offer photon beam of highest brilliance at wavelengths down to below 1 Angstrom. The accelerator complex with all its sections, the injector, the 17.5 GeV superconducting linac, bunch compressors, beam distribution systems etc. was built under the leadership of DESY. Seventeen European research institutes contributed to the accelerator complex and to the comprehensive infrastructure. DESY coordinates the European XFEL Accelerator Consortium but also contributes with many accelerator components, and the technical equipment of buildings, with its associated general infrastructure. With the finishing of the accelerator installation in autumn 2016, the first cool-down of the superconducting linac was started. Commissioning is next with the goal to demonstrate first lasing in spring 2017. Users are expected to use the first photon beams in 2017. A project overview and the status will be given illustrating the success of the collaborative work.
* http://xfel.eu
