Asymmetric immersed pole undulators

Short-wavelength radiation sources are indispensible tools in advancing science and technology. Extending these sources to shorter wavelengths requires improved undulator performance, especially at short periods. Present undulator designs, superconducting and permanent magnet, have shortcomings as the period is decreased. In addition, they require complex systems, cryogenics and/or mechanical gap adjustment, to tune and taper the field strength. These characteristics make existing undulators expensive to construct and necessitate skilled staff for operation and maintenance. This paper discusses an alternative concept, the Asymmetric Immersed Pole (AIP) undulator, which avoids many of the costly complexities of existing designs.