New infrared undulator beamline at FLASH

At the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) free electron laser in Hamburg (FLASH) an infrared (IR) beamline is being built to allow novel pump-and-probe experiments combining coherent IR pulses with the FEL radiation in the VUV spectral range. It will provide useful IR radiation generated by a purpose built undulator over the wavelength range from 200 μm to 10 μm and possibly even shorter. The commissioning of the beamline has started this summer and first light will be delivered to the experimental hall by autumn 2007. Another important application of the beamline will be electron diagnostics of the longitudinal charge distribution of the electron bunches.