STATUS REPORT OF THE FERMI@Elettra CONTROL SYSTEM*

FERMI@Elettra is a new 4 th -generation light source based on a seeded Free Electron Laser (FEL) presently under commissioning in Trieste, Italy. It is the first seeded FEL ever designed to produce fundamental output wavelength down to 4 nm with High Gain Harmonic Generation (HGHG). Unlike storage ring based synchrotron light sources that are well known machines, the commissioning of a new-concept FEL is a complex and time-consuming process consisting in thorough testing, understanding and optimization, in which a reliable and powerful control system is mandatory. In particular, integrated shot-by-shot beam manipulation capabilities and easy-to-use high level applications are crucial to allow an effective and smooth machine commissioning. This paper reports the status of the control system and the experience gained in two years of alternating construction and commissioning phases.