Design of A Prototype Precision Positioning System for the Undulators of the Linac Coherent Light Source

A precision positioning system has been designed for the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and a prototype system is being fabricated. The LCLS will use a beam-based alignment technique to precisely align all of the segments of the 131.52-m-long undulator line. The requirement for overlap between the electron beam and the x-ray beam, in order to develop and maintain lasing, demands that each quadrupole must be aligned within a tolerance of ± 7 μm and that undulator axes must be positioned within 5 μm vertically and 10 μm horizontally. Five cam movers, each with an eccentricity of 1.2 mm, will allow adjustment of a cradle supporting the undulator, its vacuum chamber, a quadrupole, and a beam position monitor. An additional motion transverse to the beam axis allows removal of individual undulators from the beam path. Positioning feedback will be provided by a wire position monitor system and a hydrostatic leveling system.