The Duke FEL light source facility

FEL research has proceeded during the last twenty five years from marginal proof of principle experiments to the construction and operation of devices optimized to provide the unique properties (peak power, tunability, and odd-wavelength capabilities) of most interest to the user community. The commissioning of the major facilities of the Duke FEL Laboratory constitutes another milestone along this path: the development of an integrated, FEL-based, research facility offering the opportunity to explore the capabilities and applications of high power, synchronized, multi-wavelength IR, UV and Gamma-ray FEL light sources. The size, cost and capabilities of such facilities appear uniquely well suited to the resources and interests of multi-disciplinary research universities.