The TimIQ Synchronization for Sub-Picoseconds Delay Adjustment

Abstract

Synchrotron facilities provides short, regular and high frequency flashes of light. These pulses are used by the scientific community for time resolved experiments. To improve the time resolution, demands for always shorter X-ray pulses are growing. To achieve this goal, Synchrotron SOLEIL and MAX IV laboratory have developed special operating modes such as low-alpha and femtoslicing, as well as a single pass linear accelerator. For the most demanding experiments, the synchronization between short light pulses and pump-probe devices requires sub-picoseconds delay adjustment. The TimIQ system has been developed for that purpose. It is a joint development between Synchrotron Soleil and MAX IV Laboratory. It is aimed to be used on three beamlines at Soleil and one at MAX IV. Based on IQ modulation technics, it allows shifting a radio frequency clock by steps of #100 fs. This paper is a description of this system and of its performances.