Abstract

A storage ring based free electron laser was the technology used to produce the first visible radiation from an FEL [1], and still holds the record for short wavelength operation and total photons produced by any FEL facility below 1 micron. This performance record is a result of the high brightness available in existing storage ring machines. High electron beam brightness is the central requirement for short wavelength free electron lasers. Since the optical gain drops for shorter wavelength, the threshold for a given machine depends on its brightness. While the "old" storage ring machine ran out of steam at 463 nm [2], the two "new" machines will operate down to 120 nm (Orsay, 1988) and 50 nm (Stanford, 1990).

© 1988 Optical Society of America