Active Projects - FY 2019
New LDRD Projects
Lead Scientist: Gabriel Marcus
This project focuses on demonstrating that an X-ray Bragg crystal in a relatively simple ringdown cavity can be actively Q-switched with a short-pulsed optical laser providing additional flexibility compared to the standard passive elements. The goal is to develop key enabling technologies to enhance the baseline LCLS-II performance by conducting targeted R&D on the optics needed for an FEL scale RAFEL cavity.
Lead Scientist: Todd Martinez
See The Martinez Group for more research information.
Lead Scientist: Theodore Vecchione
The peak X-ray power and maximum X-ray energy available to users at hard X-ray free electron laser facilities, such as the LCLS-II, are limited by the quality of the electron beam that generates the X-rays. Improvements to the electron beam source therefore provide an excellent opportunity to extend the experimental reach of these facilities at a relatively small cost. This project seeks to develop novel photocathode materials for improving the source of the electrons used in hard X-ray free electron lasers. The results will help to extend the scientific capabilities available at SLAC.
Lead Scientist: Brandon Weatherford
This project investigates a new method of generating low temperature plasmas (LTPs) for plasma chemistry, up to atmospheric pressure, using fast-pulsed high power RF structures. The goals are to use SLAC's expertise in HPRF to address two fundamental challenges in LTPs: efficient generation of uniform discharges at high pressures - up to atmosphere, and control of electrion energy distributions using pusle shaping vs. time to 'target' excited species, the latter of which has been identified by FEW as a 'grand challenge' in LTP science.
