Shao Xian Lee will be presenting his comprehensive exam topic, “X-Ray Free-Electron Laser” via Zoom.

Abstract: X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) is the most powerful X-ray source in the world. Utilizing relativistic electron beams passing through undulators, XFELs are capable of generating highly coherent, ultra-bright, and ultra-short X-ray pulses. These characteristics enable us to explore processes at the angstrom-femtosecond level. In this paper, we review the physics of XFEL, methods to improve XFELs, advanced XFEL schemes, the XFEL facilities worldwide, the applications, and the future developments of XFEL.