Accelerator-based X-ray sources: synchrotron radiation, X-ray free electron lasers and beyond

Author(s):  
Tetsuya Ishikawa

The evolution of synchrotron radiation (SR) sources and related sciences is discussed to explain the ‘generation’ of the SR sources. Most of the contemporary SR sources belong to the third generation, where the storage rings are optimized for the use of undulator radiation. The undulator development allowed to reduction of the electron energy of the storage ring necessary for delivering 10 keV X-rays from the initial 6–8 GeV to the current 3 Gev. Now is the transitional period from the double-bend-achromat lattice-based storage ring to the multi-bend-achromat lattice to achieve much smaller electron beam emittance. Free electron lasers are the other important accelerator-based light sources which recently reached hard X-ray regime by using self-amplified spontaneous emission scheme. Future accelerator-based X-ray sources should be continuous wave X-ray free electron lasers and pulsed X-ray free electron lasers. Some pathways to reach the future case are discussed. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Fifty years of synchrotron science: achievements and opportunities’.


2010 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 13-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen R. Schneider

Accelerator-based light sources stimulated progress in photon science in a truly extraordinary manner. The spectral brightness of storage-ring-based facilities increased by three orders of magnitude every 10 years since the 1960s. The extreme peak brightness at single-pass free electron X-ray lasers with pulse durations variable between about 1 and 300 femtoseconds will allow transformative experiments in many areas of science. This article is an attempt to show how progress in accelerator science and technology stimulated advancement in photon science, by discussing a limited number of examples of work at third generation storage ring facilities and free electron lasers. Hopes for further improvements in specific beam properties are expressed.



2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry N. Chapman

X-ray free-electron lasers provide femtosecond-duration pulses of hard X-rays with a peak brightness approximately one billion times greater than is available at synchrotron radiation facilities. One motivation for the development of such X-ray sources was the proposal to obtain structures of macromolecules, macromolecular complexes, and virus particles, without the need for crystallization, through diffraction measurements of single noncrystalline objects. Initial explorations of this idea and of outrunning radiation damage with femtosecond pulses led to the development of serial crystallography and the ability to obtain high-resolution structures of small crystals without the need for cryogenic cooling. This technique allows the understanding of conformational dynamics and enzymatics and the resolution of intermediate states in reactions over timescales of 100 fs to minutes. The promise of more photons per atom recorded in a diffraction pattern than electrons per atom contributing to an electron micrograph may enable diffraction measurements of single molecules, although challenges remain.



1995 ◽  
Vol 02 (04) ◽  
pp. 501-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.H. TOLK ◽  
J.T. MCKINLEY ◽  
G. MARGARITONDO

Synchrotron-radiation sources have become, since the late 1960’s, one of the fundamental experimental tools for surface and interface research. Only recently, however, a related type of photon sources - the free-electron lasers (FELs) — has begun to make important contributions to this field. For example, FELs have been used to reach unprecedented levels of accuracy and reliability in measuring semiconductor interface energy barriers. We review some of the present and proposed experiments that are made possible by the unmatched brightness and broad tunability of infrared FELs. Practical examples discussed in the review are supplied by our own programs at the Vanderbilt Free-Electron Laser. We also briefly analyze the possible future development of FELs and of their applications to surface and interface research, in particular, the possibility of x-ray FELs.



2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Schmidt

The focus of structural biology is shifting from the determination of static structures to the investigation of dynamical aspects of macromolecular function. With time-resolved macromolecular crystallography (TRX), intermediates that form and decay during the macromolecular reaction can be investigated, as well as their reaction dynamics. Time-resolved crystallographic methods were initially developed at synchrotrons. However, about a decade ago, extremely brilliant, femtosecond-pulsed X-ray sources, the free electron lasers for hard X-rays, became available to a wider community. TRX is now possible with femtosecond temporal resolution. This review provides an overview of methodological aspects of TRX, and at the same time, aims to outline the frontiers of this method at modern pulsed X-ray sources.



2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 513-518
Author(s):  
ROBERT ROSSMANITH

Synchrotron radiation produced either in storage rings or SASE-FELs is longitudinally incoherent. In this paper a way to produce short longitudinally coherent X-ray pulses is discussed. In addition it is investigated if these sources can be modified to use them as light sources for vacuum electron accelerators.



2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilme Schlichting ◽  
William E. White ◽  
Makina Yabashi

This issue of theJournal of Synchrotron Radiationis a special issue on X-ray free-electron lasers. Here, a brief introduction to these special issue papers is given.



2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 912-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norihiro Sei ◽  
Hiroshi Ogawa ◽  
Shuichi Okuda

The influence of higher-harmonic free-electron laser (FEL) oscillations on an electron beam have been studied by measuring its bunch length at the NIJI-IV storage ring. The bunch length and the lifetime of the electron beam were measured, and were observed to have become longer owing to harmonic lasing, which is in accord with the increase of the FEL gain. It was demonstrated that the saturated FEL power could be described by the theory of bunch heating, even for the harmonic lasing. Cavity-length detuning curves were measured for the harmonic lasing, and it was found that the width of the detuning curve was proportional to a parameter that depended on the bunch length. These experimental results will be useful for developing compact resonator-type FELs by using higher harmonics in the extreme-ultraviolet and the X-ray regions.



2010 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 93-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siegfried Schreiber

In the last couple of years, free electron lasers (FELs) have been a remarkable success as fourth generation light sources all over the world. Operating in the SASE mode, they produce laser-like radiation in a broad wavelength range. Especially in the soft and hard X-ray ranges, these light sources open unique and completely new fields in physics and allow a vast range of applications in most scientific fields. This article gives an overview of the principles of FELs and the SASE process, discusses technological challenges and solutions, and presents an outlook for future developments.



Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document