MEC - Matter in Extreme Conditions
Instruments
- chemRIXS/qRIXS
- CXI - Coherent X-ray Imaging
- MEC - Matter in Extreme Conditions
- MFX - Macromolecular Femtosecond Crystallography
- TMO - Time-resolved AMO
- TXI - Tender X-ray Instrument
- XCS - X-ray Correlation Spectroscopy
- XPP - X-ray Pump Probe
- SLAC MeV-UED
- LCLS-II-HE Instruments
- CXI Upgrade
- MFX Upgrade
- DXS – Dynamic X-ray Scattering
- XPP Upgrade
- Instrument Maps
- Standard Configurations

The LCLS beam with its high peak brightness, short pulse duration, and tunable X-ray photon energy provides revolutionary capabilities to study the transient behavior of matter in extreme conditions. The particular strength of the Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) instrument is to combine the unique LCLS beam with high power optical laser beams, and a suite of dedicated diagnostics tailored for this field of science (including an X-ray Thomson scattering spectrometer, an XUV spectrometer, a shielded X-ray spectrometer and a VISAR system). While the large vacuum target chamber makes the endstation very versatile, it has been designed to service key scientific areas including Warm Dense Matter physics, high pressure studies, shock physics, and high energy density physics.
Perspective for Run 22
In addition to the standard configurations, users are encouraged to take advantage of developing capabilities at MEC, in close consultation with the Instrument Team.
- The new beam delivery platform for the short pulse laser providing for easier setup of experiments using the short pulse laser, whether in full intensity, frequency doubled, or uncompressed mode.
- A new spectrometer capable of high resolution data in harsh EMP and bremsstrahlung environment (the XTCS) as well as a new compact von-Hamos sepctrometer for collective-hungry experiments.
- The UXI detectors from Sandia National Laboratory, allowing up to 4 frames separated by few ns, of particular interest for ns long dynamic studies.
Laser-only time through LaserNetUS
Starting in 2019, FES has provided funding for MEC to offer a limited amount of laser-only time (no LCLS X-rays) through the LaserNetUS consortium. See lasernetus.org for more information.
For more information about the MEC instrument, please read the following articles:
- Nagler et al., The Matter in Extreme Conditions instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source, J. Synchrotron Rad. (2015), 22 (3), 520-525
- S. H. Glenzer, et al., Matter under extreme conditions experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source J. Phys. B: At. Mol Opt Phys. (2016), 49, 092001
Location
Far Experimental Hall (FEH), Hutch 6
MEC Videos
A flyover view of the MEC instrument.
Download animation (right click and save link as):
For more MEC related videos, see the LCLS MEC playlist on YouTube.
MEC Links
MEC Contact Info
Eric Galtier
Scientist (Instrument Lead)
(650) 926-6227
egaltier@slac.stanford.edu
Jonathan Ehni
Area Manager
(650) 926-4562
jonehni@slac.stanford.edu
Dimitri Khaghani
Scientist (Instrument)
(650) 926-5009
khaghani@slac.stanford.edu
Hae Ja Lee
Scientist (Instrument)
(650) 926-2049
haelee@slac.stanford.edu
Bob Nagler
Scientist (Instrument)
(650) 926-3810
bnagler@slac.stanford.edu
Philip Heimann
Scientist (Instrument, X-ray Beam Delivery)
(650) 926-8772
paheim@slac.stanford.edu
Eric Cunningham
Scientist (Lasers)
(650) 926-2548
efcunn@slac.stanford.edu
Hai-En Tsai
Scientist (Lasers)
(650) 926-5092
haien@slac.stanford.edu
Marc Welch
Engineer (Lasers)
(650) 926-3754
mwelch@slac.stanford.edu
Gilliss Dyer
Scientist (MEC Dept Head)
(650) 926-3414
gilliss@slac.stanford.edu
Control Room: (650) 926-7970
MEC Hutch: (650) 926-7974
Vestibule: (650) 926-7976