e2v technologies has been selected to participate in the industrialisation phase for a key part of the X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) research project based at DESY (the German Electron Synchrotron) in Hamburg, Germany. DESY’s partner, the LAL Orsay Laboratory of CNRS (the National Centre for Scientific Research), is responsible for the development of the RF coupler technology for this programme and selected e2v to take part in the XFEL industrialisation phase on the merits of its materials technology, RF experience and manufacturing capabilities.
The European XFEL research project aims to create a unique source of very short pulses of highly intense X-rays that will be used to examine how materials and bio-molecules behave at the atomic level.
Under the agreement e2v will develop further the manufacturing technologies needed for mass production of the RF power couplers, which are key components to transfer high power RF into the superconducting cavities of XFEL’s linear accelerator. A total of 1000 couplers will be required for the project, which is expected to be officially launched by the end of 2006.
Reflecting on the achievement, Jean-Louis Chinzi, president of e2v technologies SAS in France, said, “e2v is delighted to be a part of this major European project. Several superconducting accelerators, including the International Linear Collider, are expected to be built over the coming years, which will present further opportunities for those businesses with the technical capability and the capacity to work closely and effectively with the scientific community.”