Undulator for the LCLS project—from the prototype to the full-scale manufacturing

The design of a new hybrid-type undulator with a fixed gap of 6.4 mm, a period of 30 mm and a length of 3.4 m is presented. The fractional variations in deflection parameter K between segments of 130.4-m-long undulator line for the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) must be ⩽1.5×10−4. Major design features and their choices are discussed. Lessons learned while working with this prototype are critical for successful project execution. Although the prototype undulator met all of the LCLS specifications, development continued in order to simplify the system. A canted-pole geometry was adopted, which allows the K value to be changed by lateral translation of the entire undulator segment. The prototype undulator was subsequently modified to test the canted-pole concept. Magnetic measurements demonstrated that the undulator with canted poles meets all LCLS specifications and is more cost effective to implement.