第四代光源

 第四代光源（X射线激光）是继第三代同步辐射光源以后,人们正在探索之中的新一代光源,它在亮度、相干性和时间结构上都大大优于第三代同步辐射光源。从目前发展的趋势来看,新一代的短脉冲、高亮度、可调的相干X射线光源将是基于自放大自发辐射原理的高增益自由电子激光（SASE FEL）。综述了第四代光源的由来、它和SASE的关系, 它的优异特性、发展现状以及应用前景。     

相干谐波储存环自由电子激光

相干谐波自由电子激光不用光学谐振腔及反射镜,可望工作在紫外和真空紫外光波段,是第四代同步辐射光源的可能途径之一。由于对束流品质要求很高,相干谐波自由电子激光首先是以储存环作为驱动器而发展起来的。由于光阴极微波电子枪的发展和直线加速器技术的进步,目前,已开始有直线加速器驱动的高增益相干谐波自由电子激光的建议。文章介绍了相干谐波储存环自由电子激光的原理、现状及展望。     

纳秒激光脉冲在空气中聚焦的临界自由电子密度问题

实验研究了高功率纳秒量级激光脉冲在空气中聚焦时的能量透过率随输入激光脉冲能量变化的规律,发现在纳秒激光脉冲聚焦半径相同的情况下,激光脉冲的能量透过率随入射激光脉冲能量的变化可分为三种情况：当入射激光脉冲能量较低时,激光脉冲能量全部通过;当入射激光脉冲能量增大后,激光脉冲的能量透过率由近100%迅速减小;当入射激光脉冲的能量进一步增加时,激光脉冲的能量透过率继续缓慢变小.用临界自由电子密度以及所对应的临界时间点对上述实验现象进行了理论分析得到了如下结论：当自由电子密度未达到临界自由电子密度时,多光子电离过程起主要作用,而当自由电子密度超过临界自由电子密度后,逆韧致吸收过程起主要作用,临界时间点是入射激光脉冲与空气作用过程中自由电子密度达到临界自由电子密度的时刻.入射激光脉冲能量决定了临界时间点在脉冲作用时间上的位置,临界时间点的位置决定了激光脉冲的能量透过率.可以通过测量激光脉冲的能量透过率来计算出临界自由电子密度,从而确定出激光脉冲在空气中聚焦时的能量透过特性. 关键词： 临界自由电子密度 临界时间点 多光子电离 逆韧致吸收     

SASE自由电子激光起振问题及统计特性的数值模拟

 介绍一种自放大自发辐射自由电子激光（SASE FEL）的自发辐射和电子束噪声的数学描述，运用修正的一维非定态程序，对SASE FEL 起振问题及光场统计特性进行了数值模拟，分析了自发辐射谱的发展过程及一定频带宽度内光场随机特性的统计规律，数值模拟结果与理论结果符合较好。     

用于激光推进的高功率激光器的选择

 从激光推进的要求出发，阐述了用于激光推进的高功率激光器的选择原则，即激光器必须满足：（1）高的平均功率和峰值功率；（2）高的单脉冲能量；（3）高的重复频率；（4）优良的大气传输特性。主要分析了目前YAG固体激光器、自由电子激光器和TEA脉冲CO₂激光器的特点，通过上述4个方面性能的比较，认为在目前水平下，TEA脉冲CO₂激光器是进行激光推进的首选强激光源，其优点表现在：功率可达10kW量级，单脉冲能量可达0.5~1kJ，重复频率为20~40Hz；激光波长处于大气传输窗口，对大气变化不敏感；工作物质快速流动，不存在热透镜效应和破坏阈值；相关光学元件易于制造；光束质量较好；运行成本低。     

高增益自由电子激光与晶体学发展

<正>高增益自由电子激光原理自由电子激光(Free Electron Laser,简写为FEL)是以相对论性电子束为放大介质、基于电磁辐射机制的相干光源。自由电子激光原理是20世纪70年代中期发展起来的,1976年,美国的梅迪(J.M.J.Madey)博士等人首次在实验上证实了振荡器型低增益FEL的原理,引起科技界极大的兴趣。20世纪80年代,科学家们提出了SASE(Self Amplified Spontaneous Emission,自放大自发辐射)高增益自由     

超长波荡器系统相位匹配的理论研究

波荡器是自由电子激光装置的核心部件, 如何实现超长波荡器段间相位的匹配是实现高增益X射线自由电子激光饱和输出的必要条件. 本文以北京大学973项目红外SASE自由电子激光实验装置波荡器的研制为模型, 给出了比较完整的相位匹配理论的描述, 进行了实现相位匹配的理论计算, 给出了实现段间相位匹配的具体端部结构和参数, 通过模拟计算表明, 当磁极调节范围为±0.5mm时可获得±100°的相位调整量. 该理论工作为今后高增益X射线自由电子激光超长波荡器系统总体方案的确立奠定了基础.     

上海深紫外自由电子激光装置中激光与束流的精确同步

介绍了一种基于相干辐射测量的激光-电子束同步方法,描述了实现空间及时间同步的基本原理、步骤和细节,并利用这种方法在上海深紫外自由电子激光装置（SDUV-FEL）上实现了电子束与激光之间亚ps量级的精确同步,为基于外种子激光的高增益高次谐波产生（HGHG）、回声型谐波产生（EEHG）和级联HGHG自由电子激光实验奠定了坚实的基础。还利用这种手段对不同条件下的电子束纵向特性进行了测量和分析。     

超快X射线自由电子激光研究进展北大核心CSCD

现代光源的发展不断推动着人们从更深层次上理解物质的基本结构和动力学行为。X射线自由电子激光作为最先进的光源,其超高的峰值功率、超短的脉冲长度和优良的相干性,为人们以原子级时空分辨率探测和操控物质中的超快过程提供了可能。目前全世界已有多个X射线自由电子激光装置建成并投入使用,在原子分子物理、化学、生命科学、材料科学等各学科应用中都显示出了重要价值。同时大量的研究工作也集中于继续提高X射线自由电子激光的性能,包括把脉冲持续时间从fs量级进一步缩短至as量级,这将为超快科学的发展带来新突破。以超快脉冲产生为主线,综述了近年来超快X射线自由电子激光产生方案的研究进展,从产生原理、方案特性、最新成果等方面介绍了各类产生方案,总结对比了各方案的优缺点,最后对超快X射线自由电子激光的未来发展方向进行了展望。     

高重复频率相干衍射辐射超宽谱太赫兹源

研究了一种新型相干衍射辐射（CDR）太赫兹源,该太赫兹源基于中国工程物理研究院自由电子激光相干强太赫兹源（FEL-THz）的加速器电子束束流,具有MHz量级重复频率。理论分析、数值计算和PIC模拟证明了此太赫兹源时间长度可达到ps量级,中心频率在100~400 GHz可调,截止频率位于1~2 THz,脉冲峰值功率可达10 kW量级,平均功率可达到W量级,并且功率随束流流强成平方正比关系。     

Fully coherent x-ray pulses from a regenerative-amplifier free-electron laser

We propose and analyze a regenerative-amplifier free-electron laser (FEL) to produce fully coherent, hard x-ray pulses. The method makes use of narrow-bandwidth Bragg crystals to form an x-ray feedback loop around a relatively short undulator. Self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) from the leading electron bunch in a bunch train is spectrally filtered by the Bragg reflectors and is brought back to the beginning of the undulator to interact repeatedly with subsequent bunches in the bunch train. The FEL interaction with these short bunches regeneratively amplifies the radiation intensity and broadens its spectrum, allowing for effective transmission of the x rays outside the crystal bandwidth. The spectral brightness of these x-ray pulses is about 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than that from a single-pass SASE FEL.     

Possible application of X-ray optical elements for reducing the spectral bandwidth of an X-ray SASE FEL

A new design for a single pass X-ray Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE) FEL is proposed. The scheme consists of two undulators and an X-ray monochromator located between them. The first stage of the FEL amplifier operates in the SASE linear regime. After the exit of the first undulator the electron bunch is guided through a non-isochronous bypass and the X-ray beam enters the monochromator. The main function of the bypass is to suppress the modulation of the electron beam induced in the first undulator. This is possible because of the finite value of the natural energy spread in the beam. At the entrance to the second undulator the radiation power from the monochromator dominates significantly over the shot noise and the residual electron bunching. As a result the second stage of the FEL amplifier operates in the steady-state regime when the input signal bandwidth is small with respect to that of the FEL amplifier. Integral losses of the radiation power in the monochromator are relatively small because grazing incidence optics can be used. The proposed scheme is illustrated for the example of the 6 nm option SASE FEL at the TESLA Test Facility under construction at DESY. As shown in this paper the spectral bandwidth of such a two-stage SASE FEL (Δλ/λ 5 × 10⁻⁵) is close to the limit defined by the finite duration of the radiation pulse. The average brilliance is equal to 7 × 10²⁴ photons/(s × mrad² × mm² × 0.1% bandw.) which is by two orders of magnitude higher than the value which could be reached by the conventional SASE FEL. The monochromatization of the radiation is performed at a low level of radiation power (about 500 times less than the saturation level) which allows one to use conventional X-ray optical elements (grazing incidence grating and mirrors) for the monochromator design.     

PETRA IV Workshop on Research with High-Energy X-rays at Ultra-Low Emittance Sources

Recent advances in storage ring technology pioneered by MAX IV (Sweden) allow synchrotron radiation sources to achieve significantly smaller emittances than those currently in operation. This new, multi-bend achromat technology can thus boost spectral brightness, enabling unprecedented experimental possibilities. The high-energy synchrotron radiation facilities ESRF (France), SPring-8 (Japan), and APS (USA) have settled upgrade plans to improve their storage ring emittance by up to two orders of magnitude at 6 GeV electron energy. PETRA III at DESY has the largest circumference with 2.3 km. As the emittance scales favorably with the storage ring size, an upgrade of PETRA III offers the unique potential to reach a diffraction limit up to X-ray energies of 10 keV. Operating at 6 GeV with an emittance of 10 pmrad, this PETRA IV facility would pave the way for new experimental opportunities, especially for those using high photon energies.     

One way only to synchrotron light sources upgrade?

The last decade has seen a renaissance of machine‐physics studies and technological advancements that aim to upgrade at least 15 synchrotron light sources worldwide to diffraction‐limited storage rings. This is expected to improve the average spectral brightness and transversally coherent fraction of photons by several orders of magnitude in the soft‐ and hard‐X‐ray wavelength range, at the expense of pulse durations longer than ～80 ps FWHM. This paper discusses the compatibility of schemes for the generation of sub‐picosecond photon‐pulse durations in synchrotron light sources with standard multi‐bunch user operation and, in particular, diffraction‐limited electron optics design. The question of this compatibility is answered taking into consideration the storage ring beam energy and the constraint of existing synchrotrons' infrastructure. An alternative scheme for the upgrade of medium‐energy synchrotron light sources to diffraction‐limited storage rings and the simultaneous production of picosecond‐long photon pulses in a high‐gain free‐electron laser scheme are illustrated.     

Self-Seeding XFELs: Operation Principle and Challenges

A high-gain free electron laser gradually became one of the most promising hard X-ray sources after its experimental demonstration in 1997. The baseline mode of operation since then remains the self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE), which is based on the shot noise amplification. Numerous statistically independent modes emerge in the electron density modulation of the electron beam and, as a result, in the temporal structure of the pulse. In a radiation spectrum, the same number of modes would be present (Figure 1(a)). In this way, SASE radiation has a poor temporal coherence.     

IKNO,a user facility for coherent terahertz and UV synchrotron radiation

IKNO (Innovation and KNOwledge) is a proposal for a multi‐user facility based on an electron storage ring optimized for the generation of coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) in the terahertz frequency range, and of broadband incoherent synchrotron radiation ranging from the IR to the VUV. IKNO can be operated in an ultra‐stable CSR mode with photon flux in the terahertz frequency region up to nine orders of magnitude higher than in existing third‐generation light sources. Simultaneously to the CSR operation, broadband incoherent synchrotron radiation up to VUV frequencies is available at the beamline ports. The main characteristics of the IKNO storage and its performance in terms of CSR and incoherent synchrotron radiation are described in this paper. The proposed location for the infrastructure facility is Sardinia, Italy.     

Study on the characteristics of linac based THz light source

There are many methods based on linac for THz radiation production.As one of the options for the Beijing Advanced Light, an ERL test facility is proposed for THz radiation.In this test facility, there are 4 kinds of methods to produce THz radiation: coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR), synchrotron radiation (SR), low gain FEL oscillator, and high gain SASE FEL.In this paper, we study the characteristics of the 4 kinds of THz light sources.     

Consideration of Femtosecond Radiation Generation on NewSUBARU Storage Ring

We studied on realization of short pulse gamma ray and X-ray simultaneously induced by a femtosecond laser on NewSUBARU storage ring. Based on the fact that the transverse dimensions of electron beam are much shorter than the longitudinal one, the laser light is arranged to collide the electron beam at a right angle to generate femtosecond pulse gamma ray, furthermore, the modulated part of the electron bunch gives rise to short pulse X-ray by synchrotron radiation from a downstream bending magnet. The temporal characteristic of the radiation is analyzed in this paper, as well as the performances are estimated.     

Spatial and spectral characteristics of laser-field synchrotron radiation

The spatial and spectral characteristics of laser-field synchrotron radiation (LSR) are investigated. The results show that LSR is emitted normal to the laser axis and emission in the X-ray wavelength can be obtained by increasing the intensity of the laser pulse and the initial energy of the electron. The unique feature offered by the laser-field synchrotron radiation (LSR) makes them a promising compact source of light at shorter wavelengths.     

Self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser with an energy-chirped electron beam and undulator tapering

We report the first experimental implementation of a method based on simultaneous use of an energy chirp in the electron beam and a tapered undulator, for the generation of ultrashort pulses in a self-amplified spontaneous emission mode free-electron laser (SASE FEL). The experiment, performed at the SPARC FEL test facility, demonstrates the possibility of compensating the nominally detrimental effect of the chirp by a proper taper of the undulator gaps. An increase of more than 1 order of magnitude in the pulse energy is observed in comparison to the untapered case, accompanied by FEL spectra where the typical SASE spiking is suppressed.