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Ultrafast switching of hard X-rays
Peter Gaal1, Daniel Schick2, Marc Herzog2
1Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen Campus, BESSY II, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
|February 25, 2014
Summary
A novel device, the PicoSwitch, shortens hard X-ray pulses from synchrotrons to picoseconds using acoustic phonons. This technology enhances temporal resolution for pump-probe experiments at existing facilities.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Optics
Background:
- Third-generation synchrotron sources produce hard X-ray pulses.
- Improving temporal resolution is crucial for advanced experiments.
- Existing methods for pulse shortening have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a new concept for shortening hard X-ray pulses.
- To introduce the PicoSwitch device for picosecond pulse generation.
- To demonstrate the device's effectiveness in synchrotron applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the dynamics of coherent acoustic phonons in a photo-excited thin film.
- Characterizing the switching times and peak reflectivity of the PicoSwitch.
- Testing the device in a synchrotron-based pump-probe experiment.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated switching times of less than or equal to 5 picoseconds.
- Achieved a peak reflectivity of approximately 10⁻³.
- Observed coherent phonon propagation in a secondary thin film sample.
Conclusions:
- The PicoSwitch offers a viable method for generating picosecond hard X-ray pulses.
- The device has the potential to significantly improve temporal resolution at current synchrotron facilities.
- Coherent phonon dynamics are key to the PicoSwitch's functionality.
