Proposal for intense attosecond radiation from an x-ray free-electron laser

Features and futures of X-ray free-electron lasers

Linear accelerator-based free-electron lasers (FELs) are the leading source of fully coherent X-rays with ultra-high peak powers and ultra-short pulse lengths. Current X-ray FEL facilities have proved their worth as useful tools for diverse scientific applications. In this paper, we present an overview of the features and future prospects of X-ray FELs, including the working principles and properties of X-ray FELs, the operational status of different FEL facilities worldwide, the applications supported by such facilities, and the current developments and outlook for X-ray FEL-based research.

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X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) generate X-ray by electrons flying through a periodic magnetic field.

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XFELs are the leading X-ray sources with ultra-high brightness and ultra-short duration.

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XFELs can be launched from either the shot noise of the electron beam or the seed.

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XFEL-laser collision is proposed to learn the nature of vacuum at SHINE.

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XFELs are being combined with intense lasers and synchrotron radiation light sources.

Single-Cycle Optical Control of Beam Electrons

We report the single-cycle optical control of a freely propagating electron beam with an isolated cycle of midinfrared light. In particular, we produce and characterize a modulated electron current with peak-cycle-specific subfemtosecond structure in time. The direct effects of the carrier-envelope phase, amplitude, and dispersion of the optical waveform on the temporal composition, pulse durations, and chirp of the free-space electron wave function demonstrate the subcycle nature of our control. These results and concept may create novel opportunities in free-electron lasers, laser-driven particle accelerators, ultrafast electron microscopy, and wherever else high-energy electrons are needed with the temporal structure of single-cycle light.

Shortening the pulse duration in seeded free-electron lasers by chirped microbunching

In externally seeded free-electron lasers (FELs) that rely on a frequency upconversion scheme to generate intense short-wavelength light pulses, the slippage effect in the radiator imposes a lower limit on the FEL pulse duration, which is typically on the order of a few tens of femtoseconds. Recently it was proposed that a combination of a chirped microbunch and a tapered undulator can be used to break this limit. Although the method has the potential to reduce the FEL pulse duration down to a level that cannot be achieved by current state-of-the-art technology, it requires a very short seed pulse (∼ one optical cycle or less), making it challenging to put this concept into practical use. Here, we propose an alternative technique to relax the requirement on the seed pulse length. We show that the modified scheme allows generation of FEL pulses with durations much shorter than that determined by the seed pulse and the slippage effect. The performance of the method, which can easily be implemented at existing seeded FEL user facilities, is evaluated through a campaign of analytical calculations and simulations. For our set of typical seeded FEL parameters, we expect the generation of 1.6 fs long pulses at 26 nm with a peak power of 10 GW using a 20 fs long chirped seed pulse operating at 260 nm.

Recent advances in ultrafast X-ray sources

Over more than a century, X-rays have transformed our understanding of the fundamental structure of matter and have been an indispensable tool for chemistry, physics, biology, materials science and related fields. Recent advances in ultrafast X-ray sources operating in the femtosecond to attosecond regimes have opened an important new frontier in X-ray science. These advances now enable: (i) sensitive probing of structural dynamics in matter on the fundamental timescales of atomic motion, (ii) element-specific probing of electronic structure and charge dynamics on fundamental timescales of electronic motion, and (iii) powerful new approaches for unravelling the coupling between electronic and atomic structural dynamics that underpin the properties and function of matter. Most notable is the recent realization of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) with numerous new XFEL facilities in operation or under development worldwide. Advances in XFELs are complemented by advances in synchrotron-based and table-top laser-plasma X-ray sources now operating in the femtosecond regime, and laser-based high-order harmonic XUV sources operating in the attosecond regime. This article is part of the theme issue 'Measurement of ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics with X-rays'.

Development of ultrafast capabilities for X-ray free-electron lasers at the linac coherent light source

The ability to produce ultrashort, high-brightness X-ray pulses is revolutionizing the field of ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy. Free-electron laser (FEL) facilities are driving this revolution, but unique aspects of the FEL process make the required characterization and use of the pulses challenging. In this paper, we describe a number of developments in the generation of ultrashort X-ray FEL pulses, and the concomitant progress in the experimental capabilities necessary for their characterization and use at the Linac Coherent Light Source. This includes the development of sub-femtosecond hard and soft X-ray pulses, along with ultrafast characterization techniques for these pulses. We also describe improved techniques for optical cross-correlation as needed to address the persistent challenge of external optical laser synchronization with these ultrashort X-ray pulses. This article is part of the theme issue 'Measurement of ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics with X-rays'.

Attosecond single-cycle undulator light: a review

Research at modern light sources continues to improve our knowledge of the natural world, from the subtle workings of life to matter under extreme conditions. Free-electron lasers, for instance, have enabled the characterization of biomolecular structures with sub-ångström spatial resolution, and paved the way to controlling the molecular functions. On the other hand, attosecond temporal resolution is necessary to broaden our scope of the ultrafast world. Here we discuss attosecond pulse generation beyond present capabilities. Furthermore, we review three recently proposed methods of generating attosecond x-ray pulses. These novel methods exploit the coherent radiation of microbunched electrons in undulators and the tailoring of the emitted wavefronts. The computed pulse energy outperforms pre-existing technologies by three orders of magnitude. Specifically, our simulations of the proposed Soft X-ray Laser at MAX IV (Lund, Sweden) show that a pulse duration of 50-100 as and a pulse energy up to 5 [Formula: see text]J is feasible with the novel methods. In addition, the methods feature pulse shape control, enable the incorporation of orbital angular momentum, and can be used in combination with modern compact free-electron laser setups.

Toward the Generation of an Isolated TW-Attosecond X-ray Pulse in XFEL

The isolated terawatt (TW) attosecond (as) hard X-ray pulse will expand the scope of ultrafast science, including the examination of phenomena that have not been studied before, such as the dynamics of electron clouds in atoms, single-molecule imaging, and examining the dynamics of hollow atoms. Therefore, several schemes for the generation of an isolated TW-as X-ray pulse in X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) facilities have been proposed with the manipulation of electron properties such as emittance or current. In a multi-spike scheme, a series of current spikes were employed to amplify the X-ray pulse. A single-spike scheme in which a TW-as X-ray pulse can be generated by a single current spike was investigated for ideal parameters for the XFEL machine. This paper reviews the proposed schemes and assesses the feasibility of each scheme.

Isolated terawatt attosecond hard X-ray pulse generated from single current spike

Isolated terawatt (TW) attosecond (as) hard X-ray pulse is greatly desired for four-dimensional investigations of natural phenomena with picometer spatial and attosecond temporal resolutions. Since the demand for such sources is continuously increasing, the possibility of generating such pulse by a single current spike without the use of optical or electron delay units in an undulator line is addressed. The conditions of a current spike (width and height) and a modulation laser pulse (wavelength and power) is also discussed. We demonstrate that an isolated TW-level as a hard X-ray can be produced by a properly chosen single current spike in an electron bunch with simulation results. By using realistic specifications of an electron bunch of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory X-ray Free-Electron Laser (PAL-XFEL), we show that an isolated, >1.0 TW and ~36 as X-ray pulse at 12.4 keV can be generated in an optimized-tapered undulator line. This result opens a new vista for current XFEL operation: the attosecond XFEL.

Short-wavelength free-electron laser sources and science: a review

This review is focused on free-electron lasers (FELs) in the hard to soft x-ray regime. The aim is to provide newcomers to the area with insights into: the basic physics of FELs, the qualities of the radiation they produce, the challenges of transmitting that radiation to end users and the diversity of current scientific applications. Initial consideration is given to FEL theory in order to provide the foundation for discussion of FEL output properties and the technical challenges of short-wavelength FELs. This is followed by an overview of existing x-ray FEL facilities, future facilities and FEL frontiers. To provide a context for information in the above sections, a detailed comparison of the photon pulse characteristics of FEL sources with those of other sources of high brightness x-rays is made. A brief summary of FEL beamline design and photon diagnostics then precedes an overview of FEL scientific applications. Recent highlights are covered in sections on structural biology, atomic and molecular physics, photochemistry, non-linear spectroscopy, shock physics, solid density plasmas. A short industrial perspective is also included to emphasise potential in this area.

Charge migration and charge transfer in molecular systems

The transfer of charge at the molecular level plays a fundamental role in many areas of chemistry, physics, biology and materials science. Today, more than 60 years after the seminal work of R. A. Marcus, charge transfer is still a very active field of research. An important recent impetus comes from the ability to resolve ever faster temporal events, down to the attosecond time scale. Such a high temporal resolution now offers the possibility to unravel the most elementary quantum dynamics of both electrons and nuclei that participate in the complex process of charge transfer. This review covers recent research that addresses the following questions. Can we reconstruct the migration of charge across a molecule on the atomic length and electronic time scales? Can we use strong laser fields to control charge migration? Can we temporally resolve and understand intramolecular charge transfer in dissociative ionization of small molecules, in transition-metal complexes and in conjugated polymers? Can we tailor molecular systems towards specific charge-transfer processes? What are the time scales of the elementary steps of charge transfer in liquids and nanoparticles? Important new insights into each of these topics, obtained from state-of-the-art ultrafast spectroscopy and/or theoretical methods, are summarized in this review.

Time-resolved X-ray scattering by electronic wave packets: analytic solutions to the hydrogen atom

This paper demonstrates how the time-dependent scattering signal of electronic wave packets in the hydrogen atom can be expressed analytically.

Chirped pulse amplification in an extreme-ultraviolet free-electron laser

Chirped pulse amplification in optical lasers is a revolutionary technique, which allows the generation of extremely powerful femtosecond pulses in the infrared and visible spectral ranges. Such pulses are nowadays an indispensable tool for a myriad of applications, both in fundamental and applied research. In recent years, a strong need emerged for light sources producing ultra-short and intense laser-like X-ray pulses, to be used for experiments in a variety of disciplines, ranging from physics and chemistry to biology and material sciences. This demand was satisfied by the advent of short-wavelength free-electron lasers. However, for any given free-electron laser setup, a limit presently exists in the generation of ultra-short pulses carrying substantial energy. Here we present the experimental implementation of chirped pulse amplification on a seeded free-electron laser in the extreme-ultraviolet, paving the way to the generation of fully coherent sub-femtosecond gigawatt pulses in the water window (2.3-4.4 nm).

Temporally-coherent terawatt attosecond XFEL synchronized with a few cycle laser

Attosecond metrology using laser-based high-order harmonics has been significantly advanced and applied to various studies of electron dynamics in atoms, molecules and solids. Laser-based high-order harmonics have a limitation of low power and photon energies. There is, however, a great demand for even higher power and photon energy. Here, we propose a scheme for a terawatt attosecond (TW-as) X-ray pulse in X-ray free-electron laser controlled by a few cycle IR pulse, where one dominant current spike in an electron bunch is used repeatedly to amplify a seeded radiation to a terawatt level. This scheme is relatively simple, compact, straightforward, and also produces a temporally and spectrally clean pulse. The viability of this scheme is demonstrated in simulations using Pohang accelerator laboratory (PAL)-XFEL beam parameters.

Using irregularly spaced current peaks to generate an isolated attosecond X-ray pulse in free-electron lasers

A method is proposed to generate an isolated attosecond X-ray pulse in free-electron lasers, using irregularly spaced current peaks induced in an electron beam through interaction with an intense short-pulse optical laser. In comparison with a similar scheme proposed in a previous paper, the irregular arrangement of current peaks significantly improves the contrast between the main and satellite pulses, enhances the attainable peak power and simplifies the accelerator layout. Three different methods are proposed for this purpose and achievable performances are computed under realistic conditions. Numerical simulations carried out with the best configuration show that an isolated 7.7 keV X-ray pulse with a peak power of 1.7 TW and pulse length of 70 as can be generated. In this particular example, the contrast is improved by two orders of magnitude and the peak power is enhanced by a factor of three, when compared with the previous scheme.

Stochastic stimulated electronic x-ray Raman spectroscopy

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) is a well-established tool for studying electronic, nuclear, and collective dynamics of excited atoms, molecules, and solids. An extension of this powerful method to a time-resolved probe technique at x-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) to ultimately unravel ultrafast chemical and structural changes on a femtosecond time scale is often challenging, due to the small signal rate in conventional implementations at XFELs that rely on the usage of a monochromator setup to select a small frequency band of the broadband, spectrally incoherent XFEL radiation. Here, we suggest an alternative approach, based on stochastic spectroscopy, which uses the full bandwidth of the incoming XFEL pulses. Our proposed method is relying on stimulated resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, where in addition to a pump pulse that resonantly excites the system a probe pulse on a specific electronic inelastic transition is provided, which serves as a seed in the stimulated scattering process. The limited spectral coherence of the XFEL radiation defines the energy resolution in this process and stimulated RIXS spectra of high resolution can be obtained by covariance analysis of the transmitted spectra. We present a detailed feasibility study and predict signal strengths for realistic XFEL parameters for the CO molecule resonantly pumped at the [Formula: see text] transition. Our theoretical model describes the evolution of the spectral and temporal characteristics of the transmitted x-ray radiation, by solving the equation of motion for the electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom of the system self consistently with the propagation by Maxwell equations.

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

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.

Proposal to generate an isolated monocycle x-ray pulse by counteracting the slippage effect in free-electron lasers

A novel scheme is proposed to generate an isolated monocycle x-ray pulse in free-electron lasers, which is based on coherent emission from a chirped microbunch passing through a strongly tapered undulator. In this scheme, the pulse lengthening by optical slippage, being intrinsic to the lasing process of free-electron lasers, can be effectively suppressed through destructive interference of electromagnetic waves emitted at individual undulator periods. Calculations show that an isolated monocycle x-ray pulse with a wavelength of 8.6 nm and a peak power of 1.2 GW can be generated if this scheme is applied to a 2-GeV and 2-kA electron beam.

Femtosecond all-optical synchronization of an X-ray free-electron laser

Many advanced applications of X-ray free-electron lasers require pulse durations and time resolutions of only a few femtoseconds. To generate these pulses and to apply them in time-resolved experiments, synchronization techniques that can simultaneously lock all independent components, including all accelerator modules and all external optical lasers, to better than the delivered free-electron laser pulse duration, are needed. Here we achieve all-optical synchronization at the soft X-ray free-electron laser FLASH and demonstrate facility-wide timing to better than 30 fs r.m.s. for 90 fs X-ray photon pulses. Crucially, our analysis indicates that the performance of this optical synchronization is limited primarily by the free-electron laser pulse duration, and should naturally scale to the sub-10 femtosecond level with shorter X-ray pulses.

Few-femtosecond synchronization at free-electron lasers is key for nearly all experimental applications, stable operation and future light source development. Here, Schulz et al. demonstrate all-optical synchronization of the soft X-ray FEL FLASH to better than 30 fs and illustrate a pathway to sub-10 fs.

Analysis of a measurement scheme for ultrafast hole dynamics by few femtosecond resolution X-ray pump–probe Auger spectroscopy

Ultrafast hole dynamics created in molecular systems as a result of sudden ionisation is the focus of much attention in the field of attosecond science. Using the molecule glycine we show through ab initio simulations that the dynamics of a hole, arising from ionisation in the inner valence region, evolves with a timescale appropriate to be measured using X-ray pulses from the current generation of SASE free electron lasers. The examined pump–probe scheme uses X-rays with photon energy below the K edge of carbon (275–280 eV) that will ionise from the inner valence region. A second probe X-ray at the same energy can excite an electron from the core to fill the vacancy in the inner-valence region. The dynamics of the inner valence hole can be tracked by measuring the Auger electrons produced by the subsequent refilling of the core hole as a function of pump–probe delay. We consider the feasibility of the experiment and include numerical simulation to support this analysis. We discuss the potential for all X-ray pump-X-ray probe Auger spectroscopy measurements for tracking hole migration.

Observation of time-domain modulation of free-electron-laser pulses by multipeaked electron-energy spectrum

We present the experimental demonstration of a new scheme for the generation of ultrashort pulse trains based on free-electron-laser (FEL) emission from a multipeaked electron energy distribution. Two electron beamlets with energy difference larger than the FEL parameter ρ have been generated by illuminating the cathode with two ps-spaced laser pulses, followed by a rotation of the longitudinal phase space by velocity bunching in the linac. The resulting self-amplified spontaneous emission FEL radiation, measured through frequency-resolved optical gating diagnostics, reveals a double-peaked spectrum and a temporally modulated pulse structure.

Few-cycle pulse generation in an x-ray free-electron laser

A method is proposed to generate trains of few-cycle x-ray pulses from a free-electron laser (FEL) amplifier via a compact "afterburner" extension consisting of several few-period undulator sections separated by electron chicane delays. Simulations show that in the hard x ray (wavelength ~0.1 nm; photon energy ~10 keV) and with peak powers approaching normal FEL saturation (GW) levels, root mean square pulse durations of 700 zs may be obtained. This is approximately two orders of magnitude shorter than that possible for normal FEL amplifier operation. The spectrum is discretely multichromatic with a bandwidth envelope increased by approximately 2 orders of magnitude over unseeded FEL amplifier operation. Such a source would significantly enhance research opportunity in atomic dynamics and push capability toward nuclear dynamics.

Proposal for a pulse-compression scheme in x-ray free-electron lasers to generate a multiterawatt, attosecond x-ray pulse

A novel scheme to compress the radiation pulse in x-ray free electron lasers is proposed not only to shorten the pulse length but also to enhance the peak power of the radiation, by inducing a periodic current enhancement with an optical laser and applying a temporal shift between the optical and electron beams. Calculations show that a 10-keV x-ray pulse with a peak power of 5 TW and a pulse length of 50 asec can be generated by applying this scheme to an existing x-ray free electron laser facility.

Using the relativistic two-stream instability for the generation of soft-x-ray attosecond radiation pulses

In this Letter we discuss a novel method for generating ultrashort radiation pulses using a broadband two-stream instability in an intense relativistic electron beam. This method relies on an electron beam having two distinct two-energy bands. The use of this new high brightness electron beam scenario, in combination with ultrashort soft x-ray pulses from high harmonic generation in gas, allows the production of high power attosecond pulses for ultrafast pump and probe experiments.

QUANTUM WAVE-PACKET EXPLORATION OF ISOLATED ULTRA-SHORT ATTOSECOND PULSE GENERATION BY A MODIFIED THREE-COLOR LASER FIELD SCHEME

By numerically solving the three dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation, we explore the high-order harmonic and attosecond pulse generation of He atoms exposed to a special three-color field. An ultrabroad supercontinuum with a bandwidth of 887 eV has been attained, supporting an isolated 4 as pulse straightforwardly by Fourier transforming. Utilizing available intense infrared femtosecond laser resource within the nonrelativistic regime, the produced laser pulse is near to zeptosecond region. Remarkably, the harmonic conversion efficiency is enhanced in terms of the double-plateau structure of the harmonic spectra, yielding high-intensity attosecond pulses with alternative plateau.

Capturing Ultrafast Quantum Dynamics with Femtosecond and Attosecond X-ray Core-Level Absorption Spectroscopy

Recent technical advances in ultrafast laser sources enable the generation of femtosecond and attosecond soft X-ray pulses in tabletop laser setups as well as accelerator-based synchrotron and free-electron laser sources. These new light sources can be harnessed via pump-probe spectroscopy to elucidate ultrafast quantum dynamics in atoms, molecules, and condensed matter with unprecedented time resolution and chemical sensitivity. Employing such ultrashort pulses in transient X-ray absorption spectroscopy combines the unique advantages of core-level absorption probing of chemical environments and oxidation states with the ability to obtain ultimately freeze-frame snapshots of electronic and nuclear dynamics. In this Perspective, we provide an overview of the progress in applying the recently developed technique of femtosecond to attosecond time-resolved soft X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy to the study of ultrafast phenomena, including some of our own efforts to elucidate the interaction of intense laser pulses with atoms and molecules in the strong-field, nonperturbative limit. Possible avenues for future work are outlined.

Determination of the pulse duration of an x-ray free electron laser using highly resolved single-shot spectra

We determined the pulse duration of x-ray free electron laser light at 10 keV using highly resolved single-shot spectra, combined with an x-ray free electron laser simulation. Spectral profiles, which were measured with a spectrometer composed of an ultraprecisely figured elliptical mirror and an analyzer flat crystal of silicon (555), changed markedly when we varied the compression strength of the electron bunch. The analysis showed that the pulse durations were reduced from 31 to 4.5 fs for the strongest compression condition. The method, which is readily applicable to evaluate shorter pulse durations, provides a firm basis for the development of femtosecond to attosecond sciences in the x-ray region.

Imaging electronic quantum motion with light

Imaging the quantum motion of electrons not only in real-time, but also in real-space is essential to understand for example bond breaking and formation in molecules, and charge migration in peptides and biological systems. Time-resolved imaging interrogates the unfolding electronic motion in such systems. We find that scattering patterns, obtained by X-ray time-resolved imaging from an electronic wavepacket, encode spatial and temporal correlations that deviate substantially from the common notion of the instantaneous electronic density as the key quantity being probed. Surprisingly, the patterns provide an unusually visual manifestation of the quantum nature of light. This quantum nature becomes central only for non-stationary electronic states and has profound consequences for time-resolved imaging.

Generation of isolated single attosecond hard X-ray pulse in enhanced self-amplified spontaneous emission scheme

The generation of isolated attosecond hard x-ray pulse has been studied under the enhanced self-amplified spontaneous emission (ESASE) scheme with the density and energy modulation of an electron bunch. It is demonstrated in simulation that an isolated attosecond hard x-ray pulse of a high contrast ratio can be produced by adjusting a driver laser wavelength and the energy distribution of an electron bunch. An isolated attosecond pulse of ~146 attosecond full-width half-maximum (FWHM) at 0.1 nm wavelength is obtained with a saturation length of 34 meter for the electron beam parameters of Korean X-ray Free Electron laser.

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.

Decoherence in attosecond photoionization

The creation of superpositions of hole states via single-photon ionization using attosecond extreme-ultraviolet pulses is studied with the time-dependent configuration-interaction singles (TDCIS) method. Specifically, the degree of coherence between hole states in atomic xenon is investigated. We find that interchannel coupling not only affects the hole populations, but it also enhances the entanglement between the photoelectron and the remaining ion, thereby reducing the coherence within the ion. As a consequence, even if the spectral bandwidth of the ionizing pulse exceeds the energy splittings among the hole states involved, perfectly coherent hole wave packets cannot be formed. For sufficiently large spectral bandwidth, the coherence can only be increased by increasing the mean photon energy.

Electron bunch timing with femtosecond precision in a superconducting free-electron laser

High-gain free-electron lasers (FELs) are capable of generating femtosecond x-ray pulses with peak brilliances many orders of magnitude higher than at other existing x-ray sources. In order to fully exploit the opportunities offered by these femtosecond light pulses in time-resolved experiments, an unprecedented synchronization accuracy is required. In this Letter, we distributed the pulse train of a mode-locked fiber laser with femtosecond stability to different locations in the linear accelerator of the soft x-ray FEL FLASH. A novel electro-optic detection scheme was applied to measure the electron bunch arrival time with an as yet unrivaled precision of 6 fs (rms). With two beam-based feedback systems we succeeded in stabilizing both the arrival time and the electron bunch compression process within two magnetic chicanes, yielding a significant reduction of the FEL pulse energy jitter.

Generation of attosecond x-ray and gamma-ray via Compton backscattering

The generation of an isolated attosecond gamma-ray pulse utilizing Compton backscattering of a relativistic electron bunch has been investigated. The energy of the electron bunch is modulated while the electron bunch interacts with a co-propagating few-cycle CEP (carrier envelope phase)-locked laser in a single-period wiggler. The energy-modulated electron bunch interacts with a counter-propagating driver laser, producing Compton back-scattered radiation. The energy modulation of the electron bunch is duplicated to the temporal modulation of the photon energy of Compton back-scattered radiation. The spectral filtering using a crystal spectrometer allows one to obtain an isolated attosecond gamma-ray.

Muon-pair creation by two x-ray laser photons in the field of an atomic nucleus

The generation of muon-antimuon pairs is calculated in the collision of an ultrarelativistic bare ion with an intense x-ray laser beam. The reaction proceeds nonlinearly via absorption of two laser photons. By systematic study throughout the nuclear chart, we show that the interplay between the nuclear charge and size, along with the possibility of nuclear excitation leads to saturation of the total production rates for high-Z ions, in contrast to the usual Z2 scaling for pointlike projectiles. The process is experimentally accessible by combining present-day ion accelerators with near-future laser sources and in principle allows for the measurement of nuclear form factors.

Mode locking in a free-electron laser amplifier

A technique is proposed to generate attosecond pulse trains of radiation from a free-electron laser amplifier. The optics-free technique synthesizes a comb of longitudinal modes by applying a series of spatiotemporal shifts between the copropagating radiation and electron bunch in the free-electron laser. The modes may be phase locked by modulating the electron beam energy at the mode spacing frequency. Three-dimensional simulations demonstrate the generation of a train of 400 as pulses at gigawatt power levels evenly spaced by 2.5 fs at a wavelength of 124 angstroms. In the x-ray at wavelength 1.5 angstroms, trains of 23 as pulses evenly spaced by 150 as and of peak power up to 6 GW are predicted.

Relic crystal-lattice effects on Raman compression of powerful x-ray pulses in plasmas

Powerful x-ray pulses might be compressed to even greater powers by means of backward Raman amplification in ultradense plasmas produced by ionizing condensed matter by the same pulses. The pulse durations contemplated are shorter than the time for complete smoothing of the crystal lattice by thermal motion of ions. Although inhomogeneities are generally thought to be deleterious to the Raman amplification, the relic lattice might, in fact, be useful for the Raman amplification. The x-ray frequency band gaps can suppress parasitic Raman scattering of amplified pulses, while enhanced dispersion of the x-ray group velocity near the gaps can delay self-phase-modulation instability, thereby enabling further amplification of the x rays.

Coherent ultrafast core-hole correlation spectroscopy: x-ray analogues of multidimensional NMR

We propose two-dimensional x-ray coherent correlation spectroscopy for the study of interactions between core-electron and valence transitions. This technique may find experimental applications in the future when very high intensity x-ray sources become available. Spectra obtained by varying two delay periods between pulses show off-diagonal crosspeaks induced by coupling of core transitions of two different types. Calculations of the N1s and O1s signals of aminophenol isomers illustrate how novel information about many-body effects in electronic structure and excitations of molecules can be extracted from these spectra.

Attosecond Control and Measurement: Lightwave Electronics

Electrons emit light, carry electric current, and bind atoms together to form molecules. Insight into and control of their atomic-scale motion are the key to understanding the functioning of biological systems, developing efficient sources of x-ray light, and speeding up electronics. Capturing and steering this electron motion require attosecond resolution and control, respectively (1 attosecond = 10(-18) seconds). A recent revolution in technology has afforded these capabilities: Controlled light waves can steer electrons inside and around atoms, marking the birth of lightwave electronics. Isolated attosecond pulses, well reproduced and fully characterized, demonstrate the power of the new technology. Controlled few-cycle light waves and synchronized attosecond pulses constitute its key tools. We review the current state of lightwave electronics and highlight some future directions.

Stochastic extraction of periodic attosecond bunches from relativistic electron beams

Intense laser waves can form a time-dependent gate, which transmits or reflects particles depending on their initial phases. When faced by a relativistic electron beam, such a barrier slices it by randomly scattering all but some particles, which nearly conserve their velocity. Subfemtosecond or attosecond periodic electron bunches are then formed downstream and can be used, for example, to generate coherent x rays via Thomson backscattering of the laser light.

Compression of powerful x-ray pulses to attosecond durations by stimulated Raman backscattering in plasmas

Backward Raman amplification (BRA) in plasmas holds the potential for longitudinal compression and focusing of powerful x-ray pulses. In principle, this method is capable of producing pulse intensities close to the vacuum breakdown threshold by manipulating the output of planned x-ray sources. The minimum wavelength limit of BRA applicability to compression of laser pulses in plasmas is found.