Pulse picker for synchrotron radiation driven by a surface acoustic wave

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• X-ray Optics

Background:

• Synchrotron radiation sources produce complex pulse patterns.
• Selecting individual pulses (bunch patterns) is crucial for many experiments.
• Existing pulse-picking technologies have limitations in time resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a functional test of a novel pulse picker for synchrotron radiation.
• To evaluate the time resolution achievable with a surface acoustic wave (SAW) based system.
• To demonstrate the modulation of X-ray intensity using SAW-modified Bragg reflection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Si/B4C multilayer structure for X-ray diffraction.
• Employed surface acoustic wave (SAW) trains to modify Bragg reflection.
• Configured the experiment in a conical diffraction geometry.
• Achieved time resolution through electronic modulation of SAW amplitude.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated the modulation of X-ray intensity by altering SAW conditions.
• Achieved a time resolution of 120 nanoseconds (ns).
• Confirmed the feasibility of isolating single bunches from a hybrid-mode pattern.

Conclusions:

• The developed pulse picker shows promise for high-time-resolution experiments.
• SAW-based modulation offers a viable method for X-ray pulse selection.
• The 120 ns resolution is suitable for isolating single synchrotron X-ray bunches.