Superconducting undulator milestone for XFEL

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A European XFEL team at the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology has tested a mock-up coil of the superconducting undulator pre-series module (S-PRESSO) designed for an upgrade of the European XFEL. It achieved a record-breaking magnetic field. This milestone is reported in Frontiers in Physics.

Superconducting Undulator Milestone: Unlocking the Secrets of Matter with Record-Breaking Magnetic Fields

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In the realm of scientific research, a remarkable achievement has been made by a team of scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. This breakthrough involves the testing of a mock-up coil for a superconducting undulator pre-series module (S-PRESSO), a crucial component for the upcoming upgrade of the European XFEL, one of the world’s leading X-ray free-electron lasers.

Superconducting Undulators: The Heart of X-ray Lasers

Superconducting undulators are essential devices in X-ray free-electron lasers like the European XFEL. They consist of a series of powerful magnets arranged in a specific pattern. When a beam of high-energy electrons passes through a superconducting undulator, it is forced to follow a zigzag path, emitting intense bursts of X-ray light. These X-rays are highly tunable, meaning they can be adjusted to various wavelengths, allowing scientists to probe the structure and dynamics of matter at the atomic and molecular level.

Record-Breaking Superconducting Magnetic Field Achieved

The team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has successfully tested a mock-up superconducting coil for the S-PRESSO module. This coil has achieved a magnetic field of 2 Tesla, which is the highest ever reached in such undulators. This milestone paves the way for the construction of full-scale superconducting undulators for the European XFEL upgrade.

Benefits of Superconducting Undulators

The use of superconducting undulators in the European XFEL upgrade will bring several advantages. It will enable the generation of X-rays with shorter wavelengths and higher energies, expanding the range of scientific experiments that can be conducted. The higher magnetic fields will also allow for faster data acquisition and improved time resolution, making it possible to study ultrafast processes in real-time.

Applications of Superconducting Undulators in Various Fields

The X-rays produced by superconducting undulators have a wide range of applications in various scientific disciplines. They can be used to study the structure and dynamics of biomolecules, such as proteins and DNA, and to investigate the properties of materials at the nanoscale. Superconducting undulators also play a crucial role in high-energy density science, helping scientists understand the behavior of matter under extreme conditions, such as those found in stars and planets.

Conclusion: Advancing Scientific Discovery with Superconducting Undulator Milestone

The successful testing of the superconducting undulator mock-up coil is a significant milestone in the development of the European XFEL upgrade. It brings us closer to realizing the full potential of superconducting undulators, enabling groundbreaking scientific discoveries in various fields. With the ability to generate X-rays with unprecedented properties, superconducting undulators will unlock new frontiers in our understanding of the universe and pave the way for transformative technologies that benefit society..

FAQ’s

1. What is an undulator?

An undulator is a device used in X-ray free-electron lasers to generate intense bursts of X-ray light. It consists of a series of powerful magnets arranged in a specific pattern, forcing a beam of high-energy electrons to follow a zigzag path, emitting X-rays.

2. Why are superconducting undulators important?

Superconducting undulators utilize superconducting materials that can generate much higher magnetic fields without energy loss compared to conventional undulators using permanent magnets. This enables the production of X-rays with shorter wavelengths and higher energies, expanding the range of scientific experiments that can be conducted.

3. What is the significance of the record-breaking magnetic field achieved?

The successful testing of a superconducting coil for the S-PRESSO module has achieved a magnetic field of 2 Tesla, the highest ever reached in such undulators. This milestone paves the way for the construction of full-scale superconducting undulators for the European XFEL upgrade, enabling the generation of X-rays with unprecedented properties.

4. What are the benefits of using superconducting undulators in the European XFEL upgrade?

Superconducting undulators will bring several advantages to the European XFEL upgrade, including the generation of X-rays with shorter wavelengths and higher energies, faster data acquisition, and improved time resolution, allowing for the study of ultrafast processes in real-time.

5. What are the applications of X-rays produced by superconducting undulators?

X-rays produced by superconducting undulators have a wide range of applications in various scientific disciplines, including the study of the structure and dynamics of biomolecules, investigation of the properties of materials at the nanoscale, and understanding the behavior of matter under extreme conditions found in stars and planets.

Links to additional Resources:

1. https://www.xfel.eu/ 2. https://www.kit.edu/ 3. https://www.frontiersin.org/.