The radiation source ELBE at the Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

A superconducting Electron Linac with high Brilliance and low Emittance (ELBE) which provides an average beam current of 1 mA with maximum beam energy of 36 MeV was constructed in the Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany. The electron beam is used to generate infrared light (Free Electron Lasers), MeV-bremsstrahlung, X-rays (electron channelling), fast neutrons and positrons. The ELBE secondary beams are used for a wide range of basic research like semiconductor physics, nuclear astrophysics and radio biological investigations. The technical setup of the accelerator and secondary beam generation will be explained and some representative application examples will be demonstrated. ELBE runs in routine user operation since 2004 with stepwise commissioning of the secondary radiation targets.