Design considerations for the insertion devices and beamline front-ends of the ESRF

The ESRF 6 GeV machine will accommodate 29 insertion devices each 5 m long. A review of the technologies available to build the insertion devices is given together with implications on the spectrum and power densitiy of the radiation. A segmentation into three sections, each 1.7 m, is proposed. The reasons and implications of the segmentation will be discussed. The components of the beamline front-ends will be subjected to an unprecedentedly high power load. (orig.)