The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) is an X-ray Free Electron Laser (FEL) currently under construction at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Coherent X-rays present interesting challenges for the opto-mechanical system that delivers the beam to experiments. One challenge is to limit the effect mirror reflections have on the beam intensity profile at the experiment stations. This imposes stringent requirements on mirror surface figure. A second challenge is that the distance from the mirrors to experiments is much greater than for prior generation x-ray sources. This imposes stringent requirements on mirror pointing resolution and stability. Pointing resolution must be within 100 nano-radians for the furthest experiments, and must be stable throughout the experiment duration. This paper describes the opto-mechanical system being designed for LCLS, and how it rises to these challenges. The design approach and supporting analysis are described, along with experimental results from prototypes.

Date Published: 3 September 2008
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 7077, Advances in X-Ray/EUV Optics and Components III, 70770E (3 September 2008); doi: 10.1117/12.795912

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7077:
Advances in X-Ray/EUV Optics and Components III
Ali M. Khounsary; Christian Morawe; Shunji Goto, Editor(s)