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X-Ray Free Electron Lasers and Their Applications

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Abstract

X-ray free electron lasers (FELs) represent the latest generation of X-ray sources, with unique properties and capabilities that present novel opportunities in the study of matter in unique forms as well as the study of interactions and dynamics on ultrafast timescales. For the purpose of this book focused on the use of X-ray FEL beams for the study of biological materials, the story begins with the availability of these novel sources to the scientific community as user facilities. Let us however take a quick step back and provide a brief historical background on what has led to the advent of X-ray FEL sources. This will be followed by a short description of the principles of operation of X-ray FELs and the breadth of their scientific use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA

    Sébastien Boutet

  2. RIKEN Spring-8 Center, Sayo-gun, Japan

    Makina Yabashi

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  1. Sébastien Boutet
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Correspondence to Sébastien Boutet .

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  1. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA

    Sébastien Boutet

  2. School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Petra Fromme

  3. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA

    Mark S. Hunter

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Boutet, S., Yabashi, M. (2018). X-Ray Free Electron Lasers and Their Applications. In: Boutet, S., Fromme, P., Hunter, M. (eds) X-ray Free Electron Lasers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00551-1_1

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