Cutting-edge research and technology at KIT's advanced accelerator facilities

he Institut für Beschleunigerphysik und Technologie (IBPT) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) operates a unique suite of accelerator facilities. These include the Karlsruhe Research Accelerator (KARA) with its electron storage ring (0.5-2.5 GeV) and booster synchrotron (50-500 MeV), the short-pulse linear accelerator FLUTE (40-90 MeV), and the KITTEN test center for energy-efficient research infrastructures. In addition, IBPT is developing compact laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs). Together with its Magnet and Cryogenics Facilities of the Accelerator Technology Platform (ATP), KIT offers an outstanding environment for accelerator research and technology transfer. Looking ahead, the compact storage ring cSTART will be established to explore non-linear and non-equilibrium physics, with FLUTE and LPAs serving as injectors.
In this group report, we present the current and upcoming accelerator test facilities at KIT and highlight key results in accelerator physics and technology, including the first superconducting THz undulator, ultra-high-dose operation modes of FLUTE, and innovative diagnostic techniques.