Search Results (7 total)

We report on a resonant magnetic scattering experiment using soft x-ray pulses generated from a free-electron laser (FEL). The free-electron laser was operated at a fundamental wavelength of 7.97 nm and radiation at the fifth harmonic originating from self-amplified stimulated emission at 1.59 nm with an average energy of 4 nJ per pulse was detected. We demonstrate the feasibility of resonant magnetic scattering at FEL sources by using a Co/Pd multilayer as prototype sample that was illuminated with 20-fs-long soft x-ray pulses tuned to the Co L₃ absorption edge at 778.1 eV (1.59 nm).

Coherent diffractive imaging for the reconstruction of a two-dimensional (2D) finite crystal structure with a single pulse train of free-electron laser radiation at 7.97 nm wavelength is demonstrated. This measurement shows an advance on traditional coherent imaging techniques by applying it to a periodic structure. It is also significant that this approach paves the way for the imaging of the class of specimens which readily form 2D, but not three-dimensional crystals. We show that the structure is reconstructed to the detected resolution, given an adequate signal-to-noise ratio.

Influence of a linear energy chirp in the electron beam on a self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) Free Electron Laser (FEL) operation is studied analytically and numerically using a 1D model. Analytical results are based on the theoretical background developed by Krinsky and Huang [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 6, 050702 (2003)]. Explicit expressions for Green’s functions and for output power of a SASE FEL are obtained for the high-gain linear regime in the limits of small and large energy chirp parameters. Saturation length and power versus energy chirp parameter are calculated numerically. It is shown that the effect of linear energy chirp on FEL gain is equivalent to the linear undulator tapering (or linear energy variation along the undulator). A consequence of this fact is a possibility to perfectly compensate FEL gain degradation, caused by the energy chirp, by means of the undulator tapering independently of the value of the energy chirp parameter. An application of this effect for generation of attosecond pulses from a hard x-ray FEL is proposed. Strong energy modulation within a short slice of an electron bunch is produced by a few-cycle optical laser pulse in a short undulator, placed in front of the main undulator. Gain degradation within this slice is compensated by an appropriate undulator taper while the rest of the bunch suffers from this taper and does not lase. Three-dimensional simulations predict that short (200 attoseconds) high-power (up to 100 GW) pulses can be produced in Angstrom wavelength range with a high degree of contrast. A possibility to reduce pulse duration to sub-100 attosecond scale is discussed.

Recent theoretical and experimental studies have shown that the self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser (SASE FEL) with a planar undulator holds a potential for generation of relatively strong coherent radiation at the third harmonic of the fundamental frequency. Here we present a detailed study of the nonlinear harmonic generation in the SASE FEL obtained with a time-dependent FEL simulation code. Using similarity techniques we present universal dependencies for temporal, spectral, and statistical properties of the odd harmonics of the radiation from SASE FEL. In particular, we derived universal formulas for radiation power of the odd harmonics at saturation. It was also found that coherence time at saturation falls inversely proportional to the harmonic number, and relative spectrum bandwidth remains constant with the harmonic number.

Experimental results are presented from vacuum-ultraviolet free-electron laser (FEL) operating in the self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) mode. The generation of ultrashort radiation pulses became possible due to specific tailoring of the bunch charge distribution. A complete characterization of the linear and nonlinear modes of the SASE FEL operation was performed. At saturation the FEL produces ultrashort pulses (30–100 fs FWHM) with a peak radiation power in the GW level and with full transverse coherence. The wavelength was tuned in the range of 95–105 nm.

We present the first observation of self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) in a free-electron laser (FEL) in the vacuum ultraviolet regime at 109 nm wavelength (11 eV). The observed free-electron laser gain (approximately 3000) and the radiation characteristics, such as dependency on bunch charge, angular distribution, spectral width, and intensity fluctuations, are all consistent with the present models for SASE FELs.