The multi-purpose electron accelerator ELBE and its applications, with a focus on THz spectroscopy

I will introduce the superconducting electron accelerator ELBE (Electron Linear accelerator with high Brilliance and low Emittance) as a source for different types of secondary radiation, including low- (meV) and high- (MeV) energy photons, positrons and neutrons. Being a solid-state spectroscopist, I will then focus on research we have performed using the terahertz free-electron laser FELBE. Here the high peak power can be employed for nonlinear optical experiments in the THz range, whereas the picosecond pulse structure enables time-resolved studies of relaxation processes.