Simple Method to Generate Terawatt-Attosecond X-Ray Free-Electron-Laser Pulses

Abstract

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) are cutting-edge research tools that produce almost fully coherent radiation with high power and short-pulse length with applications in multiple science fields. There is a strong demand to achieve even shorter pulses and higher radiation powers than the ones obtained at state-of-the-art XFEL facilities. In this context we propose a novel method to generate terawatt-attosecond XFEL pulses, where an XFEL pulse is pushed through several short good-beam regions of the electron bunch. In addition to the elements of conventional XFEL facilities, the method uses only a multiple-slotted foil and small electron delays between undulator sections. Our scheme is thus simple, compact, and easy to implement both in already operating as well as future XFEL projects. We present numerical simulations that confirm the feasibility and validity of our proposal.

Ultrashort Free-Electron Laser X-ray Pulses

“…However, the physical processes under investigation often depend on the peak intensity, which is hidden in the unresolved spike structure of the pulses. In addition to the strong impact on the broad field of non-linear physics, developments towards mode-locking [114][115][116] and the generation of X-ray pulses on the attosecond timescale [34][35][36][37] are currently in progress and will ultimately originate the scientific field of attosecond X-ray physics. This imminent breakthrough demands unprecedented time resolution for the temporal characterization of the structure of SASE XFEL pulses under various modes of operation.…”

Transverse gradient in Apple-type undulators

“…(Saldin et al, 2006). For the Athos beamline at SwissFEL, a continuous taper over an undulator modulator via a TGU is mandatory to achieve good performances since no significant contrast ratios can be achieved for a stepwise taper (Prat & Reiche, 2015). In x2 and x3, a general and new theoretical framework is introduced to demonstrate the presence of a transverse gradient in an Apple undulator under certain operation conditions and to provide practical formulas for the actual operation of these devices.…”

Imaging interatomic electron current in crystals with ultrafast resonant x-ray scattering

“…Such subfemtosecond hard x-ray pulses can be produced at free-electron lasers using the strategies described in Refs. [8][9][10][11][12][13]. The probe pulse propagates along the x direction and its polarization is along the y axis, parallel to one of the vectors connecting two Br atoms (see Fig.…”

“…Femtosecond time resolution is already achieved at free-electron laser facilities [6,7], and high-intensity attosecond pulses are realizable using the techniques described in Refs. [8][9][10][11][12][13].…”