The Linac Coherent Light Source Project at SLAC

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) is an x-ray free-electron laser project presently under construction at SLAC. A 14-GeV high-brightness electron beam is produced in the last kilometer of the existing SLAC linear accelerator, generating coherent x-ray radiation in a 130-m long undulator. The peak x-ray brightness is 10 orders of magnitude higher than existing 3rd generation light sources with a wavelength of 1.5 Angstroms and a pulse duration as short as one femtosecond, opening limitless scientific opportunities in the world of the ultra-small and ultra-fast. This presentation will describe the project scope and status, highlighting especially the key accelerator physics challenges.