In this paper the design of the free-electron laser (FEL) in the SXL (Soft X-ray Laser) project at the MAX IV Laboratory is presented. The target performance parameters originate in a science case put forward by Swedish users and the SXL FEL is foreseen to be driven by the existing MAX IV 3 GeV linac. The SXL project is planned to be realized in different stages and in this paper the focus is on Phase 1, where the basic operation mode for the FEL will be SASE (self-amplified spontaneous emission), with an emphasis on short pulses. Simulation results for two linac bunches (high and low charge) with different pulse duration are illustrated, as well as the performance for two-color/twopulses mode and power enhancement through tapering. Besides standard SASE and optical klystron configurations, the FEL setup is also tailored to allow for advanced seeding schemes operations. Finally possible upgrades that will be implemented in a second phase of the project are discussed.

As a part of the efforts to improve the longitudinal coherence in the design of the Soft X-ray FEL (the SXL) at MAX IV, we present a possible implementation of the EEHG harmonic seeding scheme partly integrated into the second bunch compressor of the existing LINAC. A special focus is given to the effect of CSR on the resulting EEHG bunching and on how this unwanted effect might be controlled.

The SXL (Soft X-ray Laser) project developed a conceptual design for a soft X-ray Free Electron Laser (FEL) in the 1–5 nm wavelength range, driven by the existing MAX IV 3 GeV linac. In this contribution we will focus on the FEL operation modes developed for the first phase of the project based on two different linac modes. The design work was supported by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation and by several Swedish universities and organizations (Stockholm, Uppsala, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm-Uppsala FEL center, MAX IV laboratory and Lund University).

A Soft X-ray free electron laser (FEL) for the MAX IV Laboratory is currently in the design phase and it will use the existing 3 GeV linac. Present stability limits in the RF and the photocathode laser will affect the performance of the FEL. One of the critical elements for the design of a FEL is to have an estimation on jitter effects of the accelerator parameters on the X-ray radiation. In this regard, we implemented a start-to-end study using Astra, Elegant and Genesis in order to assess possible variations in pulse energy, photon pulse length and spectral width in the Soft X-ray Laser (SXL) radiation. This investigation provides insights on the final SXL performance variation due to RF and laser related jitter affecting the electron beam.

The Coherent Synchrotron Radiation (CSR) interaction is a source of unwanted correlated energy spread in shortbunch Free-Electron Lasers (FEL), diluting the desired FEL spectrum and reducing the total brightness of the light source. Many accelerator codes make use of 1-dimensional approximations in the calculation of the CSR-wake, which breaks down for bunch dimensions typical within bunch compressor dipoles in FELs. General Particle Tracer [1] simulations of the CSR interaction make use of the 3-dimensional bunch distribution, making it advantageous in modelling the short-bunch, high aspect ratio regimes typical of modern 4-generation light sources. Measurements of THz CSR emitted from the final bunch compressor dipole of the SP02 beamline at the MAX-IV Short Pulse Facility (SPF) were used, alongside start-to-end GPT and Elegant [2] simulations, to characterize coherent radiation emission across a broad range of bunch lengths.

CLARA is a new FEL test facility being developed at STFC Daresbury Laboratory in the UK, aiming to deliver advanced FEL capabilities including few-cycle pulse generation and Fourier transform limited output. Commissioning is underway on the front-end (photo-injector and first linac) while the later stages are being procured and assembled. Start-to-end (S2E) simulations of the full facility are presented, including optimisation of the accelerator setup to deliver the required properties of one of the electron beam modes specified for FEL operation. FEL simulations are performed using the Genesis 1.3 and Puffin codes and the results are compared.