Next-generation X-ray sources, based on the X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) concept, will provide highly coherent, ultrashort pulses of soft and hard X-rays. The research applications of the ultra-short and intense pulses produced by these sources range from condensed matter and materials research, to femto-chemistry, molecular biology, atomic spectroscopy, and many more.

The Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is building the SwissFEL which is expected to begin user operation in the year 2017. The present status of the facility and the characteristics will be presented as well as a selection of research topics.