Ultrashort 1-kHz laser plasma hard x-ray source

We achieved a continuous, stable, ultrashort pulse hard x-ray point source by focusing 1.8-W, 1-kHz, 50-fs laser pulses onto a novel, 30-microm -diameter, high-velocity, liquid-metal gallium jet. This target geometry avoids most of the debris problems of solid targets and provides nearly 4pi illumination. Photon fluxes of 5x10(8) photons/s are generated in a two-component spectrum consisting of a broad continuum from 4 to 14 keV and strong K(alpha) and K(beta) emission lines at 9.25 and 10.26 keV. This source will find wide use in time-resolved x-ray diffraction studies and other applications.     

Compact soft x-ray microscope using a gas-discharge light source

We report on a soft x-ray microscope using a gas-discharge plasma with pseudo spark-like electrode geometry as a light source. The source produces a radiant intensity of 4 x 10(13) photons/(sr pulse) for the 2.88 nm emission line of helium-like nitrogen. At a demonstrated 1 kHz repetition rate a brilliance of 4.3 x 10(9) photons/(microm2 sr s) is obtained for the 2.88 nm line. Ray-tracing simulations show that, employing an adequate grazing incidence collector, a photon flux of 1 x 10(7) photons/(microm2 s) can be achieved with the current source. The applicability of the presented pinch plasma concept to soft x-ray microscopy is demonstrated in a proof-of-principle experiment.     

1 kHz tabletop ultrashort hard x-ray source for time-resolved x-ray protein crystallography

We describe a compact, reliable, and high-average-power femtosecond x-ray source and its first application to diffraction on protein crystal. The setup relies on a homemade Ti: sapphire system delivering 12 mJ at a 1 kHz repetition rate, associated with a small vacuum chamber especially designed for laser-plasma interaction and x-ray applications. This device allows the generation of 5 x 10(9) photons/s/sr at 8 keV and optimized x-ray irradiation of the studied sample, which can be placed close to the source. We present the diffraction pattern of a protein crystal in a divergent beam geometry, which is a first step to a subpicosecond x-ray diffraction experiment.     

Characteristics of a multi-keV monochromatic point x-ray source based on vacuum diode with laser-produced plasma as cathode

Temporal, spatial and spectral characteristics of a multi-keV monochromatic point x-ray source based on vacuum diode with laser-produced plasma as cathode are presented. Electrons from a laser-produced aluminium plasma were accelerated towards a conical point tip titanium anode to generate K-shell x-ray radiation. Approximately 10₁₀ photons/pulse were generated in x-ray pulses of ∼18 to ∼28 ns duration from a source of ∼300 μm diameter, athυ = 4.51 keV (K _α emission of titanium), with a brightness of ∼10²⁰ photons/cm²/s/sr. This was sufficient to record single-shot x-ray radiographs of physical objects on a DEF-5 x-ray film kept at a distance of up to ∼10 cm.     

Analysis of characteristic X-ray generation induced by laser plasma electrons accelerated by an electric field

The results of experiments devoted to the study of spectral, spatial, and time characteristics of a spectrally bright point x-ray source based on a vacuum diode with a laser-plasma cathode and a titanium needle anode with a photon energy approximately equal to 4.5 keV are presented. The experimental results revealed a considerable difference between the electron emission from laser plasma in a strong electric field and the explosive electron emission and demonstrated the effectiveness of laser plasma as an electron source. The optimization of the laser radiation power density, the accelerating voltage, and the interelectrode spacing made it possible to create a point x-ray source whose spectral brightness exceeds available sources in the class of small-size pulse x-ray instruments (tubes with explosive cathodes). It has been proved experimentally that the maximum contrast of the characteristic lines of the anode material is attained in the case of an optimal choice of accelerating voltage. The x-ray source has the following parameters: (1) spectral brightness of the K-lines of titanium of the order of 10²¹ photons/cm² s sr keV; (2) emitting region size of 250 mm; and (3) laser pulse duration less than 20 ns.     

Observation of high-energy electrons from a metal target irradiated by protons with a mean energy of 25 keV

Electrons with abnormally high energies of up to 16 keV are detected from an iron target irradiated by ions (H⁺, Fe⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺) with energies ranging from 20 to 100 keV from the plasma of a high-power femtosecond laser pulse with an intensity of 10¹⁶ J/(s cm²). These electrons indicate that the energy of an incident ion is almost completely transferred to an electron knocked out of the target. In a range of 6–16 keV, the spectrum of electrons knocked out of the K shell of iron atoms by protons with an energy of 22 ± 2 keV is quasi-exponential with an exponent of 4 keV. For 8-keV electrons, the double differential cross section for ionization by such protons is estimated as 10^?7 b/(eV sr).     

All-optical switching at ultralow light levels

We report an experimental demonstration of all-optical switching at ultralow light levels in coherently prepared Rb atoms. A signal light pulse is switched on and off by a control light pulse at different frequencies in a four-level atomic system based on multiphoton interferences. We observed a switching efficiency of 55% with the signal and control light pulses containing approximately 20 photons each, corresponding to a control energy density of approximately 10(-5) photons per atomic cross section lambda(2)/(2pi).     

Excitation of X rays by electrons accelerated in air in the wake wave of a laser pulse

The characteristics of X rays of a laser plasma generated in the interaction of a femtosecond pulse with solid targets in an air atmosphere have been investigated. It has been shown that the mechanism for the generation of X rays in the interaction of short intense laser pulses with solid targets in a gas atmosphere is attributed to the generation of fast electrons in the region of the filamentation of a laser pulse. It has been proven experimentally that under such conditions, the solid target irradiated by laser radiation of even a low density of about 10¹⁵ W/cm² very efficiently emits ∼10-keV photons. It has been shown theoretically that the maximum energy of accelerated electrons can reach ɛ_max ∼ 100–200 keV under these conditions. This means that the proposed method can provide characteristic radiation with the energy of photons much higher than 10 keV.     

Single-pulse coherent diffraction imaging using soft x-ray laser

We report a coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) using a single 8 ps soft x-ray laser pulse at a wavelength of 13.9 nm. The soft x-ray pulse was generated by a laboratory-scale intense pumping laser providing coherent x-ray pulses up to the level of 10(11) photons/pulse. A spatial resolution below 194 nm was achieved with a single pulse, and it was shown that a resolution below 55 nm is feasible with improved detector capability. The single-pulse CDI might provide a way to investigate dynamics of nanoscale molecules or particles.     

Monochromatic X-Ray Sources Based on Emitters Controlled by Laser Radiation

The results of study of frequency-tuned monochromatic x-ray source are reported. The source was developed on the basis of a vacuum diode with a laser-plasma cathode. The source proposed is particularly promising, if the range of x-ray energy higher than 5 keV is of interest. The source features a spectral brightness higher than 10¹⁹ photons/(cm²·s·sr·keV) and an x-ray pulse duration no larger than 10^?8 s. An electromagnetic model of such a cathode is proposed and evaluated in order to assess the feasibility of an x-ray source with a laser-plasma cathode of higher performance. The possibility of using a ferroelectric electron emitter is discussed.     

Observation of subpicosecond x-ray emission from laser-cluster interaction

We present the first experimental evidence of the subpicosecond duration of x-ray pulses emitted from laser-irradiated clusters, demonstrating the suitability of such a debris free target for ultrafast x-ray science applications. The K-shell emission (approximately 3 keV) from large Ar clusters (6 x 10(5) to 4 x 10(6) atoms) is time resolved, when irradiated by ultrashort (40 fs to 5 ps) and intense laser pulses (10(15-17) W/cm2). The observations are supported by hydrodynamical and collisional-radiative calculations, that reproduce the extremely short x-ray pulse duration.     

超强激光与Ar团簇相互作用中X射线的研究

本文主要研究了超强超短激光与Ar团簇相互作用过程中X射线能谱、K壳层光子产额、能量转换效率以及激光对比度对X射线光子产额的影响.实验中得到K壳层的光子产额约为1× 10¹¹/发,能量转换效率约为2.8× 10^-5．同时观测到较强预脉冲离化团簇会导致预电离,产生膨胀等离子体,然而主脉冲与膨胀的等离子体相互作用的强度较未膨胀时降低了,从而导致K壳层光子产额降低,而使用高对比度的激光能增加X射线光子产额.     

Generation of millijoule-level soft-x-ray laser pulses at a 4-Hz repetition rate in a highly saturated tabletop capillary discharge amplifier

Laser pulses with energies of as much as 1 mJ were generated at a wavelength of 46.9 nm by single-pass amplification in a 34.5 cm-long Ne-like Ar capillary discharge plasma. The large gain-length product of this plasma column allows for soft-x-ray amplification in a highly saturated regime, resulting in efficient energy extraction. Average laser output pulse energy of 0.88 mJ and peak power of 0.6 MW were obtained at a repetition rate of 4 Hz. With an estimated peak spectral brightness of approximately 1x10(23)photons /(s mm(2)mrad> (2)0.01% bandwidth) this tabletop laser is one of the brightest soft-x-ray sources to date.     

Ultrafast structural dynamics using time-resolved x-ray diffraction driven by relativistic laser pulses

Based on a femtosecond laser plasma-induced hard x-ray source with a high laser pulse energy( 100 mJ) at 10 Hz repetition rate,we present a time-resolved x-ray diffraction system on an ultrafast time scale.The laser intensity is at relativistic regime(2 × 10~(19) W/cm~2),which is essential for effectively generating K_α source in high-Z metal material.The produced copper K_α radiation yield reaches to 2.5 × 10~8 photons/sr/shot.The multilayer mirrors are optimized for monochromatizating and two-dimensional beam shaping of K_α emission.Our experiment exhibits its ability of monitoring the transient structural changes in a thin film SrCoO_(2.5) crystal.It is demonstrated that this facility is a powerful tool to perform dynamic studies on samples and adaptable to the specific needs for different particular applications with high flexibility.     

BioCARS: a synchrotron resource for time‐resolved X‐ray science

BioCARS, a NIH‐supported national user facility for macromolecular time‐resolved X‐ray crystallography at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), has recently completed commissioning of an upgraded undulator‐based beamline optimized for single‐shot laser‐pump X‐ray‐probe measurements with time resolution as short as 100 ps. The source consists of two in‐line undulators with periods of 23 and 27 mm that together provide high‐flux pink‐beam capability at 12 keV as well as first‐harmonic coverage from 6.8 to 19 keV. A high‐heat‐load chopper reduces the average power load on downstream components, thereby preserving the surface figure of a Kirkpatrick–Baez mirror system capable of focusing the X‐ray beam to a spot size of 90 µm horizontal by 20 µm vertical. A high‐speed chopper isolates single X‐ray pulses at 1 kHz in both hybrid and 24‐bunch modes of the APS storage ring. In hybrid mode each isolated X‐ray pulse delivers up to ～4 × 10¹⁰ photons to the sample, thereby achieving a time‐averaged flux approaching that of fourth‐generation X‐FEL sources. A new high‐power picosecond laser system delivers pulses tunable over the wavelength range 450–2000 nm. These pulses are synchronized to the storage‐ring RF clock with long‐term stability better than 10 ps RMS. Monochromatic experimental capability with Biosafety Level 3 certification has been retained.     

Ultra-short efficient laser-driven hard X-ray source operated at a kHz repetition rate

Ultra-short bursts of hard X-ray radiation are generated by interaction of high-contrast femtosecond laser pulses with a jet of liquid Ga. The X-ray emission shows a strong dependence on the angle of incidence and polarization of the laser beam, consistent with the processes of resonant absorption and vacuum heating. As much as 60% of the total X-ray emission consists of [_Ga]K radiation (9.22–9.25 keV) with a photon flux of 6×10⁹ photons/(ssrad). Using this novel X-ray source, static diffraction patterns from a GaAs(111) crystal were recorded with an acquisition time of 2 s. PACS 52.38.Ph; 52.59.Px; 52.50.Jm     

High-order harmonics generation by few-cycle and multi-cycle femtosecond laser pulses

This paper investigates experimentally high-order harmonic generation(HHG) of neon gas with 5-fs and 25-fs driving laser pulses.It has been demonstrated that the cutoff energy of the harmonic extreme ultraviolet photons is extended to 131 eV and the HHG spectrum near the cutoff region becomes continuum as the driving laser pulse duration is 5 fs;whereas much lower cutoff photon energy and discrete harmonic spectrum near the cutoff region are presented as the laser pulse duration is 25 fs.The results can be explained by the fact that neutral atoms can be exposed to more intense laser field before they are depleted by ionization because of the extremely short rising time of the few-cycle pulse.The 5-fs driving laser pulse paves the way of generation of coherent x-ray in the water window and single attosecond pulse.     

High-brightness injection-seeded soft-x-ray-laser amplifier using a solid target

We demonstrate the generation of an intense soft-x-ray-laser beam by saturated amplification of high harmonic seed pulses in a dense transient collisional soft-x-ray-laser plasma amplifier created by heating a titanium target. Amplification in the 32.6 nm line of Ne-like Ti generates laser pulses of subpicosecond duration that are measured to approach full spatial coherence. The peak spectral brightness is estimated to be approximately 2 x 10(26) photons/(s mm(2) mrad(2) 0.01% bandwidth). The scheme is scalable to produce extremely bright lasers at very short wavelengths with full temporal and spatial coherence.     

Coherent hard x rays from attosecond pulse train-assisted harmonic generation

High-order harmonic generation from atomic systems is considered in the crossed fields of a relativistically strong infrared laser and a weak attosecond pulse train of soft x rays. Due to one-photon ionization by the x-ray pulse, the ionized electron obtains a starting momentum that compensates the relativistic drift, which is induced by the laser magnetic field, and allows the electron to efficiently emit harmonic radiation upon recombination with the atomic core in the relativistic regime. This way, short pulses of coherent hard x rays of up to 40 keV energy can be generated.     

Tailored pulse sequences from an 880 nm pumped Nd:YVO₄ bounce amplifier

We report on an 880 nm quasi-continuously pumped Nd:YVO₄ grazing-incidence "bounce" amplifier, operating at a 300 Hz repetition rate. More than 70 dB small signal gain is achieved with a single crystal. Combined with fast programmable modulators, high-contrast and near-diffraction-limited pulse sequences at the 100 μJ level are produced and can be tailored in terms of pulse duration, amplitude, and a temporal spacing well into the microsecond range. This system could significantly improve extreme-UV comb generation based on parametric amplification and harmonic upconversion of two near-IR comb laser pulses.