Free Electron Laser in Poland

The idea of building a new IVth generation of light sources of high luminosity, which use accelerators, arose in the 80ties of XXth century. Now, in a numerable synchrotron and laser laboratories in Europe, there is carried out, since a couple of years, intense applied research on free electron lasers (FEL) [17,18]. Similarly, in this country, free electron laser in Poland – POLFEL [9] is, in a design, a coherent light source of the IVth generation, characterized by very short pulses in the range of 10-100fs, of big power 0,2GW and UV wavelength of 27nm, of average power 1W, with effective high power third harmonic of 9nm. The laser consists of a linear superconducting accelerator 100m in length, undulator and experimental lines. It generates a monochromatic and coherent radiation and can be tuned from THz range via IR, visible to UV, and potentially to X-rays. The linac works in quasi-CW or real-CW mode. It is planned by IPJ [9,10] and XFEL-Poland Consortium [16] as a part of the ESFRI [1] priority EuroFEL infrastructure collaboration network [6], part of the European Research Area - ERA [2]. The paper discusses: FEL background in Poland as a part of EuroFEL infrastructure, FEL parameters and performance, FEL research and technical program and FEL networking in Europe and worldwide. Emphasis is put on the usage of superconducting RF TESLA technology and ties linking Polfel and the European X-Ray Free Electron Laser. The Polfel team of researchers is now dissipated worldwide among such projects as Flash and E-xfel in Desy, Cebaf in JLab, Alba in Barcelona, Elettra in Trieste, ILC in Fermilb, LCLS in SLAC. Polfel creates an unique, but quite transient, chance to gather, and solidly accumulate for a long time this expertise in this country again. Submitted to Electronics and Telecommunications Quarterly, vol.55, no.4