Louisiana State University Physics & Astronomy

In the United States, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Department of Energy's Office of Science have recently identified a number of "Grand Challenges in Science". Addressing them will require a new suite of tools, among them new light sources. This talk will discuss these new scientific challenges, and will then report on the physics and enabling technology of the latest round of brightness improvements, which have been achieved in the IR and THz range at Jefferson Lab but whose principles are extendable to light sources at shorter (uv to x-ray) wavelengths. This presents an opportunity for the Southeast to propose such a facility. Examples of scientific applications in the IR will also be given.