European XFEL Research Articles

Photon-shot-noise-limited transient absorption soft X-ray spectroscopy at the European XFEL.

Femtosecond transient soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a very promising technique that can be employed at X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) to investigate out-of-equilibrium dynamics for material and energy research. Here, a dedicated setup for soft X-rays available at the Spectroscopy and Coherent Scattering (SCS) instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (European XFEL) is presented. It consists of a beam-splitting off-axis zone plate (BOZ) used in transmission to create three copies of the incoming beam, which are used to measure the transmitted intensity through the excited and unexcited sample, as well as to monitor the incoming intensity. Since these three intensity signals are detected shot by shot and simultaneously, this setup allows normalized shot-by-shot analysis of the transmission. For photon detection, an imaging detector capable of recording up to 800 images at 4.5 MHz frame rate during the FEL burst is employed, and allows a photon-shot-noise-limited sensitivity to be approached. The setup and its capabilities are reviewed as well as the online and offline analysis tools provided to users.

The beam transport system for the Small Quantum Systems instrument at the European XFEL: optical layout and first commissioning results.

The Small Quantum Systems instrument is one of the six operating instruments of the European XFEL, dedicated to the atomic, molecular and cluster physics communities. The instrument started its user operation at the end of 2018 after a commissioning phase. The design and characterization of the beam transport system are described here. The X-ray optical components of the beamline are detailed, and the beamline performances, transmission and focusing capabilities are reported. It is shown that the X-ray beam can be effectively focused as predicted by ray-tracing simulations. The impact of non-ideal X-ray source conditions on the focusing performances is discussed.

First measurement of energy diffusion in an electron beam due to quantum fluctuations in the undulator radiation

Plasma and beam physics are usually considered as classical physics disciplines with quantum effects featuring only rarely. In particular, free electron lasers (FELs) even in the Angstrom regime (developed recently and being upgraded towards even shorter wavelengths) are well described by classical mechanics and electrodynamics. There is, however, a quantum effect that can influence the operation of these devices and limit the shortest achievable wavelength, namely energy diffusion in an electron beam due to quantum fluctuations in undulator radiation. Although this effect has been calculated theoretically, it has never been measured. In this paper we present measurements of quantum diffusion effect at the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser. The method uses a recently installed wakefield structure, which enables measurements of the longitudinal phase space after the hard X-ray undulator. The effect of quantum diffusion in the undulator is measured for the first time, and the results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

Experimental Demonstration of Attoseconds-at-Harmonics at the SASE3 Undulator of the European XFEL

We report on observations of single spike spectra (3–13% of events) upon employing a previously proposed method for single spike generation via harmonic conversion. The method was tested at the soft X-ray SASE3 undulator of the European XFEL. The first part of the undulator allows one to amplify bunching at the fundamental as well as the higher harmonics. The downstream undulator is tuned to a harmonic, the fourth in our case, to amplify pulses with a shorter duration. We estimate the generated pulse duration within such a subset of short pulses at a level of 650 as. Considering the demonstrated probability of single spike events, this method is attractive for high repetition-rate free electron lasers.

Anomaly detection at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser using a parity-space-based method

A novel approach to detect anomalies in superconducting radio-frequency (rf) cavities is presented, based on the parity space method with the goal to detect quenches and distinguish them from other anomalies. The model-based parity space method relies on analytical redundancy and generates a residual signal computed from measurable rf waveforms. The residual is a sensitive indicator of deviation from the model and provides different signatures for different types of anomalies. This new method not only helps with detecting faults but also provides a catalog of unique signatures, based on the detected fault. The method was experimentally verified at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (EuXFEL). Various types of anomalies incorrectly detected as quenches by the current quench detection system are analyzed using this new approach.9 MoreReceived 28 February 2022Accepted 5 December 2022DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.26.012801Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.Published by the American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasMethods in electromagnetismRadio frequency calculationsAccelerators & Beams

A Safe Bayesian Optimization Algorithm for Tuning the Optical Synchronization System at European XFEL

The European XFEL is one of the largest linear particle accelerator in the world used to generate extremely intense and ultra short X-Ray flashes to study ultra fast, time resolved chemical processes. In order to improve the quality of the observations, the laser-based optical synchronization system is optimized by tuning PI controllers using a safe Bayesian optimization approach. Since machine time on the European XFEL is very expensive, the algorithm needs to find the optimal parameters as fast as possible. In this contribution, we present a safe Bayesian optimization algorithm which, while guaranteeing safety, shows significantly improved convergence speed and noise robustness. Application and comparison results are presented in simulation for the optical synchronization system of the European XFEL and an experimental demonstration is performed for a laboratory synchronization system.

A data-driven anomaly detection on SRF cavities at the European XFEL

The European XFEL is currently operating with hundreds of superconducting radio frequency cavities. To be able to minimize the downtimes, prevention of failures on the SRF cavities is crucial. In this paper, we propose an anomaly detection approach based on a neural network model to predict occurrences of breakdowns on the SRF cavities based on a model trained on historical data. We used our existing anomaly detection infrastructure to get a subset of the stored data labeled as faulty. We experimented with different training losses to maximally profit from the available data and trained a recurrent neural network that can predict a failure from a series of pulses. The proposed model is using a tailored architecture with recurrent neural units and takes into account the sequential nature of the problem which can generalize and predict a variety of failures that we have been experiencing in operation.

The structure of tick-borne encephalitis virus determined at X-ray free-electron lasers. Simulations.

The study of virus structures by X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has attracted increased attention in recent decades. Such experiments are based on the collection of 2D diffraction patterns measured at the detector following the application of femtosecond X-ray pulses to biological samples. To prepare an experiment at the European XFEL, the diffraction data for the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was simulated with different parameters and the optimal values were identified. Following the necessary steps of a well established data-processing pipeline, the structure of TBEV was obtained. In the structure determination presented, a priori knowledge of the simulated virusorientations was used. The efficiency of the proposed pipeline was demonstrated.

Start-to-end simulations for bunch compressor and THz SASE FEL at PITZ

The magnetic bunch compressor was designed as part of a THz accelerator source being developed at the Photo Injector Test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (PITZ) as a prototype for pump-probe experiments at the European XFEL. As an electron bunch is compressed to achieve higher bunch currents for the THz source, the beam dynamics in the bunch compressor was studied by numerical simulations. A start-to-end simulation optimizer including coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) effects has been developed by combining the use of ASTRA, OCELOT, and GENESIS to support the design of the THz source prototype. In this paper, we present simulation results to explore the possibility of improving the performance of the THz FEL at PITZ by using the developed bunch compressor.

A Study of the Latest Updates of the DAQ Firmware for the DSSC Camera at the European XFEL

A Study of the Latest Updates of the DAQ Firmware for the DSSC Camera at the European XFEL

Virtual commissioning of the European XFEL for advanced user experiments at photon energies beyond 25 keV using low-emittance electron beams

Growing interests in ultra-hard X-rays are pushing forward the frontier of commissioning the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL) for routine operation towards the sub-ångström regime, where a photon energy of 25 keV (0.5 Å) and above is desired. Such X-rays allow for larger penetration depths and enable the investigation of materials in highly absorbing environments. Delivering the requested X-rays to user experiments is of crucial importance for the XFEL development. Unique capabilities of the European XFEL are formed by combining a high energy linac and the long variable-gap undulator systems for generating intense X-rays at 25 keV and pushing the limit even further to 30 keV. However, the FEL performance relies on achievable electron bunch qualities. Low-emittance electron bunch production, and the associated start-to-end modelling of beam physics thus becomes a prerequisite to dig into the XFEL potentials. Here, we present the obtained simulation results from a virtual commissioning of the XFEL for the user experiments at 25 keV and beyond, including the optimized electron bunch qualities and corresponding FEL lasing performance. Experimental results at 30 keV from the first test run are presented.

Direct LiF imaging diagnostics on refractive X-ray focusing at the EuXFEL High Energy Density instrument.

The application of fluorescent crystal media in wide-range X-ray detectors provides an opportunity to directly image the spatial distribution of ultra-intense X-ray beams including investigation of the focal spot of free-electron lasers. Here the capabilities of the micro- and nano-focusing X-ray refractive optics available at the High Energy Density instrument of the European XFEL are reported, as measured in situ by means of a LiF fluorescent detector placed into and around the beam caustic. The intensity distribution of the beam focused down to several hundred nanometers was imaged at 9 keV photon energy. A deviation from the parabolic surface in a stack of nanofocusing Be compound refractive lenses (CRLs) was found to affect the resulting intensity distribution within the beam. Comparison of experimental patterns in the far field with patterns calculated for different CRL lens imperfections allowed the overall inhomogeneity in the CRL stack to be estimated. The precise determination of the focal spot size and shape on a sub-micrometer level is essential for a number of high energy density studies requiring either a pin-size backlighting spot or extreme intensities for X-ray heating.

New physics searches with an optical dump at LUXE

We propose a novel way to search for feebly interacting massive particles, exploiting two properties of systems involving collisions between high energy electrons and intense laser pulses. The first property is that the electron-laser collision results in a large flux of hard photons, as the laser behaves effectively as a thick medium. The second property is that the emitted photons free-stream inside the laser and thus for them the laser behaves effectively as a very thin medium. Combining these two features implies that the electron-intense-laser collision is an apparatus, which can efficiently convert $\mathcal{O}(10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV})$ electrons to a large flux of hard, collinear photons. The photons are directed onto a solid dump in which feebly interacting massive particles may be produced. With the much smaller backgrounds induced by the photon beam compared to those expected in electron- or proton-beam dump experiments and combined with a relatively shorter dump used here, the sensitivity to short lifetimes is unparalleled. We denote this novel apparatus as ``optical dump'' or NPOD (new physics search with optical dump). The proposed LUXE experiment at the European XFEL has all the basic required ingredients to realize this experimental concept for the first time. Moreover, the NPOD extension of LUXE is essentially parasitic to the main experiment and thus, practically it does not have any bearing on its main program. We discuss how the NPOD concept can be realized in practice by adding a detector after the last physical dump of the experiment to reconstruct the two-photon decay of a new spin-0 particle. We show that even with a relatively short dump, the search can still be background-free. Remarkably, even with a few days of data taking with a 40 TW laser corresponding to its initial run, LUXE-NPOD will be able to probe an uncharted territory of models with pseudoscalars and scalars. Furthermore, with a 350 TW laser of the main run, LUXE-NPOD will have a unique reach for these models. In particular it can probe natural scalar theories for masses above 100 MeV. We note that the new NPOD concept may be ported to other existing or future facilities worldwide, including, e.g., future lepton colliders.

Study of a diamond channel cut monochromator for high repetition rate operation at the EuXFEL: FEA thermal load simulations and first experimental results

The recent start of the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL) provides a unique pulsed X-ray source of high spectral brilliance and high photon flux at a high repetition rate and opens the possibility for new scientific opportunities. However, the EuXFEL beam has a high peak power that is converted into a high cyclic thermal load on the optical elements, such as mirrors and monochromators, and is impossible to fully mitigate within the pulse train pattern. In the single crystal based X-ray monochromators, the increase of temperature leads to deformation of the crystal structure which affects the rocking curve and consequently the performance of these devices and the quality of the transmitted X-ray beam. To address the increase of temperature, we propose the use of a diamond channel-cut monochromator as an alternative to the current silicon monochromators. In this work we present the design and parameters of the diamond monochromator, heat load simulations and the surface and crystalline quality characterisation. The heat load simulations indicate a high performance of the monochromator under the pulse train of the EuXFEL and the characterisation demonstrates high crystal quality and its functionality as a double crystal monochromator.

The SXP instrument at the European XFEL

The successful implementation of the baseline instruments at the European XFEL has triggered a second phase of instrument developments aiming to extend the portfolio of available techniques. At the soft X-ray undulator (SASE 3), the Soft X-ray Port (SXP) instrument is currently under construction. Conceived as an open port, it focuses primarily on femtosecond time-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (TR-XPES), which has proven to be a powerful tool to understand the properties of materials and the interaction between their internal degrees of freedom. The extension of this technique to the soft X-ray energy range is only possible at MHz free electron lasers (FELs) due to space-charge effects which limit the maximum photon flux per pulse on the sample. In this contribution, the SXP instrument at the European XFEL and the implementation of TR-XPES using a momentum microscope are presented. The photon energy range available at SASE 3, 0.25 keV to 3.5 keV, and the variable polarization will allow for the simultaneous characterization of the electronic, magnetic, chemical and structural properties of materials with femtosecond time resolution. To this end, a wide range of laser excitation wavelengths, ranging from the XUV to the THz region, will be available.

The Laser Infrastructure at the SXP instrument of the European XFEL

This contribution presents the laser infrastructure concept of the Soft X-ray Port (SXP) instrument at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) for day one operation. This scientific platform is conceived as an open port complementing the scientific scope of the other two, already operating baseline instruments at the SASE 3 soft x-ray undulator focusing on atomic, molecular and non-linear optical (SQS) as well as condensed matter physics (SCS). The main driving force behind SXP originates from the time-resolved X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy community contemplating key questions in the dynamics of materials science at interfaces. Nonetheless, proposals to investigate high-valent metal intermediates in biological and inorganic catalysts for chemical bond activation by means of fluorescence spectroscopy as well as research on highly charged ions in the light of astrophysics are also pursued. The outstanding capabilities of the European XFEL pave the way for ultrafast pump-probe investigations at the SXP instrument combining intense and tunable soft X-rays with versatile optical laser capabilities, which are provided by two synchronized femtosecond laser systems, whose wavelength ranges can be extended into the infrared as well as extreme ultraviolet region.

Analysis of the error budget for a superconducting undulator SASE line at European XFEL

European XFEL is investing in the development of superconducting undulators (SCUs) for future upgrade of its beamlines. SCUs made of NbTi, working at 2 K, with a period length of 15 mm and a vacuum gap of 5 mm allow covering a range between 54 keV and 100 keV. The effect of mechanical errors in the distribution of the undulator parameter K along the undulators is more relevant for working points at lower photon energy, which are obtained using a higher magnetic field in the undulator. In this article we investigate the effect of error distribution in the K-parameter for a working point at 50 keV photon energy obtained injecting an electron beam with 16.5 GeV energy from the XFEL linear accelerator in a undulator line composed by SCUs with 1.6 T peak magnetic field.

Superconducting Phase shifter design for the afterburner at the European XFEL.

At the European XFEL, we are designing a superconducting afterburner for the SASE2 hard X-ray beamline. It will consist of a series of five undulator modules plus a pre-series one called S-PRESSO. One module corresponds to two superconducting undulator (SCU) coils of 2m length plus one phase shifter. Such an afterburner will enable photon energies above 30 keV. We foresee to install superconducting (SC) phase shifters in each undulator module to keep the correct phase delay between the electron beam and photon beam. In this contribution, we present the required SC phase shifter parameters to enable operation in the electron beam energy range 11.5-17.5 GeV. We also analyze different magnetic designs satisfying the calculated specifications.

Coherence properties from speckle contrast analysis at the European XFEL

We show the results of speckle contrast analysis at the MID instrument of European XFEL in the hard X-ray regime. Speckle patterns measured from static colloidal samples are compared to results previously obtained at the SPB/SFX instrument. A high degree of coherence of 0.79 is obtained by modelling the q-dependence of the speckle contrast, that corresponds to a number of coherent modes of M = 1.7. Furthermore, the variation of contrast over many pulse trains is exceptional low, resulting in a degree of coherence with a relative standard deviation below 0.1. Our results demonstrate the high stability of coherence properties at European XFEL over many X-ray pulses and pulse trains which is a prerequisite for coherence-based techniques such as MHz X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy.

Characterization of helical APPLE X undulators with 90 mm period for the European XFEL

European XFEL is going to provide full polarization control in the soft X-ray SASE line (SASE3). For this purpose, four helical APPLE X undulators with 90 mm period are installed downstream with respect to the planar undulators of the SASE3 undulator line consisting of 21 planar undulators with 68 mm period. In this contribution, the measurement technique, as well as the results of the measurements and tuning of the APPLE X undulators performed at European XFEL are presented.