Overview of the SACLA facility.
In March 2012, SACLA started user operations of the first compact X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) facility. SACLA has been routinely providing users with stable XFEL light over a wide photon energy range from 4 to 15 keV and an ultrafast pulse duration below 10 fs. The facility supports experimental activities in broad fields by offering high-quality X-ray optics and diagnostics, as well as reliable multiport charge-coupled-device detectors, with flexible experimental configurations. A two-stage X-ray focusing system was developed that enables the highest intensity of 10(20) W cm(-2). Key scientific results published in 2013 and 2014 in diverse fields are reviewed. The main experimental systems developed for these applications are summarized. A perspective on the facility upgrade is presented.
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Kouto 1-1-1, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
Makina
M
Yabashi
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Kouto 1-1-1, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
Hitoshi
H
Tanaka
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Kouto 1-1-1, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
Tetsuya
T
Ishikawa
X-ray free-electron laser; X-ray optics; beamline instrumentation; quantum X-ray optics; ultrafast X-ray science