• F.V. Hartemann, F. Albert, S.G. Anderson, C.P.J. Barty, A.J. Bayramian, R.E. Bonnanno, T.S. Chu, R.R. Cross, C.A. Ebbers, D.J. Gibson, T.L. Houck, R.A. Marsh, D.P. McNabb, M. J. Messerly, R.D. Scarpetti, M. Shverdin, C. Siders, S.S.Q. Wu
  LLNL, Livermore, California
• C. Adolphsen, A.E. Candel, E.N. Jongewaard, Z. Li, C. Limborg-Deprey, T.O. Raubenheimer, S.G. Tantawi, A.E. Vlieks, F. Wang, J.W. Wang, F. Zhou
  SLAC, Menlo Park, California
• V.A. Semenov
  UCB, Berkeley, California

Continued progress in accelerator physics and laser technology have enabled the development of a new class of tunable x-ray and gamma-ray light sources based on Compton scattering between a high-brightness, relativistic electron beam and a high intensity laser pulse produced via chirped-pulse amplification (CPA). A precision, tunable, monochromatic (< 0.4% rms spectral width) source driven by a compact, high-gradient X-band linac designed in collaboration with SLAC is under construction at LLNL. High-brightness (250 pC, 3.5 ps, 0.4 mm.mrad), relativistic electron bunches will interact with a Joule-class, 10 ps, diode-pumped CPA laser pulse to generate tunable γ-rays in the 0.5-2.5 MeV photon energy range. This gamma-ray source will be used to excite nuclear resonance fluorescence in various isotopes. Fields of endeavor include homeland security, stockpile science and surveillance, nuclear fuel assay, and waste imaging and assay. The source design, key parameters, and current status will be discussed, along with important applications, including nuclear resonance fluorescence and high precision medical imaging.

• C.D. Nantista, C. Adolphsen, K.L.F. Bane, Z. Huang, Z. Li, F. Wang, F. Zhou
  SLAC, Menlo Park, California

With the growing demand for FEL light sources, cost issues are being revaluated. To make the machines more compact, higher-frequency room-temperature linacs are being considered, in particular, ones using C-band (5.7 GHz) rf technology where 40 MV/m gradients are possible. In this paper, we show that an X-band (11.4 GHz) linac using the technology developed for NLC/GLC can provide an even lower cost solution. In particular, stable operation is possible at gradients of 100 MV/m for single bunch operation, and 70 MV/m for multibunch operation. The concern of course is whether the stronger wakefields will lead to unacceptable emittance dilution. However, we show that the small emittances produced in a 250 MeV, low bunch charge, LCLS-like S-band injector and bunch compressor can be preserved in a multi-GeV X-band linac with reasonable alignment tolerances.