Event Details

Unique Capabilities at FELIX: Infrared and TeraHertz Free Electron Lasers, Nano-Imaging and Surface Science

FELIX comprises a suite of free-electron lasers covering the wide tunable range of 2.7-1500 μm (6 3600 cm-1, 0.25-120 Hz, 0.75-450 meV). The pulses can be tailored to individual needs including high intensity and ultra-short pulses. The radiation can also be coupled to the High-Field Magnetic laboratory with a magnet of up to 33T. FELIX offers radiation with a unique set of properties, which are not available in the UK and as such does not compete with any UK facility.

FLUENCE is an EPSRC-funded program to facilitate access by UK scientists to the FELIX suite of infrared and terahertz free electron lasers in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. It aims to significantly expand the size and breadth of the UK community using FELIX by supporting new users and early career researchers in their first experiments on FELIX. The program also includes the potential of two new and unique facilities at FELIX. One of these is the development of an IR & THz nano-imaging facility and the other is the development of a Catalysis, Astro-Science & Surface Science Facility.

IR & THz Nano-Imaging: The HiWin project will commission a beyond-state-of-the-art system that allows the FELIX high power mid infrared (MIR) through THz (3.5 um – 150 um, 2-75 THz) radiation to be concentrated to a 20-50 nm spot with the unique illumination and collection efficiencies of up to 50%. HiWin will allow individual nanoparticles, inorganic and biological materials and nanoscale devices to be uniquely probed to obtain critical nanoscale spectroscopic, chemical, and physical properties and the investigation of nanoscale phenomena. HiWin will use a state-of-the-art scanning probe microscope to target the area of interest to locally map and explore these with the FEL radiation. Further details

Catalysis, Astro-Science & Surface Science Facility on FELIX aims to extend the capabilities at FELIX by establishing a facility enabling surface and catalytic phenomena to be studied under a variety of conditions from ultrahigh vacuum to in operando with gases, liquids and on solids.