Energy Recovered Light Source Technology at TJNAF
Application/instrumentation:
Energy-recovered linac/TJNAF Free Electron Laser
Developed at:
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Developed in:
1980’s-current
Result of NP research:
SRF R&D at TJNAF
Application currently being supported by:
DOE NP, Defense Programs, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force
Impact/benefit to spin-off field:
Directed energy and materials processing applications; new technology for accelerators for basic energy sciences, nuclear and particle physics and defense applications

The energy-recovered FEL has seen wide application in the fields of medicine, materials science, photochemistry and biophysics. This pioneering demonstration of SRF energy-recovery technology is the basis for an entire new class of devices that are currently being designed for basic energy sciences, nuclear and particle physics and defense applications. The Free-Electron Laser program is supported in part by the Department of Defense’s Office of Naval Research, the Naval Sea Systems Command, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Joint Technology Office; and by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Image: harmonic light is produced in the visible when the FEL lases in the infrared. Here the colors are dispersed in an image of the output.