MariX: design study of a Multi-disciplinary Advanced Research Infrastructure for the generation and application of X-rays

Aula Voci – DFA UNIPD
Luca Serafini – INFN Milano

The need of a fs-scale pulsed, MHz-class repetition rate, X-ray source for time-resolved fine analysis of matter (spectroscopy and photon scattering) in the linear response regime is addressed by the conceptual design of a facility called MariX, outperforming current X-ray sources based on FELs or Synchrotrons for the declared scope. MariX is based on the original design of a two-pass two-way superconducting linear electron accelerator, equipped with an arc compressor, to be operated in CW mode (1MHz). MariX provides FEL emission in the range 0.2-8 keV with 10^8 photons per pulse using a 1.5 GeV Linac. The accelerator complex includes an early stage that supports an advanced inverse Compton source of very high-flux hard X-rays (up to 10^13 monochromatic X-ray photon beams) of energies up to 180 keV that are well adapted for large area radiological imaging, realizing a broad science program and serving a multidisciplinary user community, covering fundamental science of matter and application to life sciences, including health at preclinical and clinical level. MariX is designed to represent a new research infrastructure for Northern Italy, and in particular for the Milan metropolitan area and the new Scientific Campus of University of Milan in the post-Expo area (and its Milan Innovation District, MIND). A very brief report on the STAR Project, an ongoing compact Compton Source for monochromatic X-rays under commissioning in Calabria (South Italy) will also be presented.