Synchronization systems for ERLs

The next generation light sources require synchronization of (soft and hard) X-rays to beamline and end station lasers. The relative timing jitter required will be of the order of the photon pulse length down to a few fs between sources separated by similar to 100-500 in. Also the synchronization of electron beam production at the photo-injector, the beam acceleration and compression in the linac.. the electron arrival time at the insertion devices and some of the beam diagnostics in the linac must be synchronized with a precision of the same order of magnitude. The concept of synchronization is described and limiting factors for synchronization in Energy Recovery Linacs are discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.