Speaker
Description
X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs), with their unique source properties—including femtosecond and sub-
femtosecond pulse durations, high peak brightness, and coherence—offer compelling opportunities for chemical
research. These capabilities allow for the investigation of compounds undergoing photochemical reactions using
site- and element-specific spectroscopy, and, in parallel, for following the corresponding structural changes in
real-time via x-ray scattering. Furthermore, non-linear x-ray spectroscopy methods can provide unparalleled
insights, for instance, into the chemical composition of interfaces. In this presentation, I will provide an
overview of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the world’s first hard x-ray XFEL, and detail its ongoing
upgrade. I will also review current directions in chemistry-related research at LCLS and highlight opportunities
afforded by the capabilities of a future next-generation XFEL light source.