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abstract:
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Recent theoretical and experimental work has led to important advances in the physics of Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission free-electron-lasers (SASE-FELs), and in the production of high brightness, high energy electron beams. This work has made possible the design and construction of X-ray FELs at a few to 0.1 nm. The X-ray FEL has the characteristics required for a ''4th Generation Light Source'': diffraction limited radiation, subpicosecond pulse length, peak and average brightness largely exceeding that of 3rd generation sources. We review the status of SASE-FELs, and of the X-ray FEL projects.
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