The Metrology Light Source is a recently constructed 630 MeV electron storage ring, operating as a synchrotron radiation source for the THz to extreme UV spectral range. It is the first storage ring optimized for generating intense, broadband, coherent THz radiation, based on a bunch shortening mode. Stable (“steady state”) or bursting THz radiation up to an average power of about 60 mW can be obtained. The applied machine operation mode is achieved by manipulating the momentum compaction factor $\alpha$ by a novel tuning scheme. The underlying low-$\alpha$ scheme is of general interest for operating a storage ring in a short bunch mode and is the main subject of this paper.

• Received 16 July 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.14.030705

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