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 ∼100–500 m. 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.