X-ray Spectral Region Research Articles

Hartmann wavefront sensors and their application at FLASH.

Different types of Hartmann wavefront sensors are presented which are usable for a variety of applications in the soft X-ray spectral region at FLASH, the free-electron laser (FEL) in Hamburg. As a typical application, online measurements of photon beam parameters during mirror alignment are reported on. A compact Hartmann sensor, operating in the wavelength range from 4 to 38 nm, was used to determine the wavefront quality as well as aberrations of individual FEL pulses during the alignment procedure. Beam characterization and alignment of the focusing optics of the FLASH beamline BL3 were performed with λ(13.5 nm)/116 accuracy for wavefront r.m.s. (w(rms)) repeatability, resulting in a reduction of w(rms) by 33% during alignment.

Theoretical Study of Laser Emission for C-Like (Ar XIII), (Ti XVII) and (Fe XXI)

Energy levels, transition probability and oscillator strengths have been calculated for the Ar XIII, Ti XVII and Fe XXI. The configurations included in the calculations are 2s2 2p2, 2s2 2p 3l (l = s, p & d) and 4l (l = s, p, d, & f) of C-like Ar XIII, Ti XVII & Fe XXI which has 69 fine structures by using the fully relativistic flexible atomic code (FAC) program. These data are used in the determination of the reduced population and gain coefficients over a wide range of electron densities from (10+18 to 10+23) and at various plasmas temperatures. The results show that the transitions in Ar18+, Ti22+, and Fe26+ ions are the most promising laser emission lines in the XUV and soft X-ray spectral regions.

Spectroscopy for identification of plasma sources for lithography and water window imaging

The identification of sources for applications that include nanolithography, surface patterning and high resolution imaging is the focus of a considerable activity in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) or soft x-ray (SXR) spectral regions. We report on the result of a study of the spectra from laser produced plasmas of a number of medium and high Z metals undertaken in order to identify potential sources for use with available multilayer mirrors. The main focus was the study of unresolved transition arrays emitted from ions with 3d, 4d and 4f valence subshells that emit strongly in the water window (2.34-4.38 nm).and that could be used for biological imaging or cell tomography.

Twisted high-harmonic generation

Crossing two focused laser beams with opposite circular polarization makes the production and application of circularly polarized light in the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray spectral regions considerably easier and more efficient.

CHIANTI – An atomic database for emission lines. Version 8

We present version 8 of the CHIANTI database. This version includes a large amount of new data and ions, which represent a significant improvement in the soft X-ray, EUV and UV spectral regions, which several space missions currently cover. New data for neutrals and low charge states are also added. The data are assessed, but to improve the modelling of low-temperature plasma the effective collision strengths for most of the new datasets are not spline-fitted as previously, but are retained as calculated. This required a change of the format of the CHIANTI electron excitation files. The format of the energy files has also been changed. Excitation rates between all the levels are retained for most of the new datasets, so the data can in principle be used to model high-density plasma. In addition, the method for computing the differential emission measure used in the CHIANTI software has been changed.

Temporal behavior of unresolved transition array emission in water window soft x-ray spectral region from multiply charged ions

We have characterized the spectral structure and the temporal history of the laser-produced high-Z multi-charged ion plasmas for the efficient water window soft x-ray sources. Strong unresolved transition array emission was observed due to 4d–4f and 4f–5g transitions from Au, Pb, and Bi plasmas in the 280–700 eV photon energy region. The temporal behavior of the emission was essentially similar of that of the laser pulse with a slight delay between different transitions. These results provide feedback for accurate modeling of the atomic processes with the radiative hydrodynamic simulations.

Spectrotemporal shaping of seeded free-electron laser pulses.

We demonstrate the ability to control and shape the spectrotemporal content of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pulses produced by a seeded free-electron laser (FEL). The control over the spectrotemporal properties of XUV light was achieved by precisely manipulating the linear frequency chirp of the seed laser. Our results agree with existing theory, which allows us to retrieve the temporal properties (amplitude and phase) of the FEL pulse from measurements of the spectra as a function of the FEL operating parameters. Furthermore, we show the first direct evidence of the full temporal coherence of FEL light and generate Fourier limited pulses by fine-tuning the FEL temporal phase. The possibility of tailoring the spectrotemporal content of intense short-wavelength pulses represents the first step towards efficient nonlinear optics in the XUV to x-ray spectral region and will enable precise manipulation of core-electron excitations using the methods of coherent quantum control.

Fresnel zone plate telescope for condenser alignment in water-window microscope

Microscopes operating at short wavelengths, in the extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray spectral region, require careful condenser positioning to avoid possible artifacts related to enhancing or diminishing certain spatial frequencies in the image plane. Various methods are often used to visualize the condenser illumination pattern, including direct visualization on a CCD camera; however, these are not always straightforward to use. We present and discuss a novel and convenient method to image a condenser illumination pattern upstream the sample plane, using two zone plates with matched numerical apertures. This imaging system, operating herein in the water-window spectral range in telescope configuration, allows us to change the distance between the conjugated planes, thus overcoming limitations related to the geometry of the vacuum system. This geometry, which is optimized for the highest possible spatial resolution allowed by the zone-plate objective, is not necessarily particularly good for visualization of the condenser illumination pattern. The presented method was demonstrated with a compact, gas puff target source based soft x-ray microscope, which is capable of resolving 60 nm features (half-pitch resolution), requires a few seconds exposure time, and is debris-free due to the gaseous nature of the target for soft x-ray generation. The method, presented herein, may solve mentioned vacuum system geometry limitations. Also, it can easily be extended to other systems and other wavelengths, provided a proper optic is used. Modes of operation and the results are presented and discussed.

History of extreme ultraviolet solar measurements in XX–XXI centuries: from balloons to the International Space Station as instrumental platforms

The Sun was one of the central points for observations as long as human cultures are known. After researchers observed the extension of the solar rainbow spectrum towards shorter wavelengths with increasing altitude they started measurements of the solar ultraviolet spectrum from balloons in 1934. The acquisition of spectra in the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray spectral regions was beginning after 1946 using photographic recordings aboard rockets. However, it took six more years to achieve good spectral resolution below about 220 nm because servomechanisms had to be developed to fairly accurately point the spectrographs to the Sun during the rocket flight. Another big step forward was achieved by the application of photoelectric recording technology and by using satellites as a platform to observe qualitatively the strong variability of the solar ultraviolet irradiance on short-, medium- and long-term scales. Until the end of the past century these measurements have been strongly impeded by the inherent degradation of the EUV instruments with time. Since there is progress solving this serious problem, measurements with sufficient radiometric accuracy allow composing the data available to the first set of ultraviolet data covering a period of eleven years. Based on the sophisticated instrumentation verified in space, future EUV measurements of the solar spectral irradiance on the International Space Station are promising accuracy levels of about 5%. Added by low-cost equipment on-line measurements will allow providing data needed in ionospheric modeling for correcting propagation delays of navigation signals from space to Earth. Adding ultraviolet airglow and auroral emission measurements the impact of space weather on the ionosphere can be studied and also be used deriving more detailed correction procedures for the evaluation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals.

Comparative study of the X-ray reflectivity and in-depth profile of a-C, B4C and Ni coatings at 0.1–2 keV

The use of soft X-rays near the carbon edge of absorption (270-300 eV) greatly enhances studies in various branches of science. However, the choice of reflecting coatings for mirrors operating in free-electron and X-ray free-electron laser (FEL and XFEL) beamlines in this spectral range is not so evident and experimental justifications of the mirror efficiency are rather limited. In the present paper it is demonstrated experimentally that the reflectivity of B4C- and Ni-coated grazing-incidence mirrors is high enough for their operation in FEL or XFEL beamlines near the carbon K-edge of absorption. The minimal reflectivity of both mirrors proves to exceed 80% near the carbon absorption edge at a grazing angle of 0.6°. An in-depth profile of the chemical elements composing the reflecting coatings is reconstructed based on analysis of a set of reflectivity curves measured versus the grazing angle at different photon energies in the soft X-ray spectral region. This allows us to predict correctly the mirror reflectivity at any X-ray energy and any grazing angle.

Image Plane Holographic Microscopy With a Table-Top Soft X-Ray Laser

We demonstrate image plane holographic microscopy in the soft X-ray (SXR) spectral region, combining the coherent output from a 46.9-nm wavelength table-top SXR laser and two Fresnel zone plates. Phase and amplitude maps of the object are simultaneously obtained from holograms created at the image plane by the superposition of a reference and object beam originating from the zero and first diffraction order of the zone plates. We have used the microscope to record holograms of nanometer-scale periodic Si elbow patterns with 30% absorption contrast at the laser wavelength. The measured phase shift of 2.3 rad accurately predicts the Si dense line step height of 100 nm. The scheme is scalable to shorter wavelengths and allows for simultaneous high spatial and temporal resolution.

Population Inversion and X-Ray Laser Gain by Electron Impact Excitation of Ni-Like Tin

Excitation energies and transition probabilities for the 1s22s22p63s23p63d10, and the 1s22s22p63s23p63d94l (l= s, p, d, and f) configurations in nickel-like tin have been used to calculate the reduced population of 99 fine structure levels over a wide range of electron densities and at different electron plasma temperatures. The gain coefficients for those transitions with positive population inversion factors have been calculated as a function of electron density. This study is concerned with the transitions which produce positive gain at XUV and X-ray spectral regions.

Сопоставление способов расчета сечений рассеяния в рентгеновской области спектра

Сопоставление способов расчета сечений рассеяния в рентгеновской области спектра

Generation of high-frequency combs locked to atomic resonances by quantum phase modulation

A general mechanism for the generation of frequency combs referenced to atomic resonances is put forward. The mechanism is based on the periodic phase control of a quantum systemʼs dipole response. We develop an analytic description of the combʼs spectral structure, depending on both its atomic and phase-control properties. We further suggest an experimental implementation of our scheme, i.e. generating a frequency comb in the soft x-ray spectral region, which can be realized with currently available techniques and radiation sources. The universality of this mechanism allows the generalization of frequency comb technology to arbitrary frequencies, including the hard x-ray regime, by using reference transitions in highly charged ions.

53 W average power few-cycle fiber laser system generating soft x rays up to the water window.

We report on a few-cycle laser system delivering sub-8-fs pulses with 353 μJ pulse energy and 25 GW of peak power at up to 150 kHz repetition rate. The corresponding average output power is as high as 53 W, which represents the highest average power obtained from any few-cycle laser architecture so far. The combination of both high average and high peak power provides unique opportunities for applications. We demonstrate high harmonic generation up to the water window and record-high photon flux in the soft x-ray spectral region. This tabletop source of high-photon flux soft x rays will, for example, enable coherent diffractive imaging with sub-10-nm resolution in the near future.

Resonance-enhanced harmonics for probing molecular electrons

Electrons in molecules rearrange on an attosecond timescale, much faster than the nuclear rearrangement associated with chemical bond breaking, which takes tens to hundreds of femtoseconds. In spite of these dramatically different timescales, it has been shown that the electron dynamics can influence the ensuing nuclear motion.1 Capturing, and ultimately controlling, this electronic motion may therefore open up the possibility of dictating the outcome of a chemical reaction before the nuclei even begin to move,2 by shaping the spectral amplitude and phase of the attosecond pulse to select a particular reaction pathway. Despite widespread interest, application of attosecond science to molecular targets has proceeded slowly. For pump-probe experiments, it would be ideal to generate intense isolated attosecond ‘pump’ pulses3 from below-threshold harmonics (i.e., with photon energies below the ionization threshold of the generation medium, which can excite ground state electrons to a higher molecular orbital). Such harmonics lie in the relatively low-photon-energy vacuum-UV (VUV) spectral region, where molecules are most electronically active. However, it is difficult to generate below-threshold harmonics, and until now the low conversion efficiency of attosecond pulse generation has severely limited the achievable photon flux (number of photons). Macroscopic buildup of high-order harmonics can be enhanced through phase-matching techniques. In these, the interaction between a driving laser and the medium in which the high-order harmonics are to be generated is experimentally tuned to maintain a fixed phase relationship between the driving laser and the generated harmonic fields. Phase matching techniques have been used effectively in high-order harmonic generation in the above-threshold region to scale the achievable photon flux, primarily in the extreme-UV and soft x-ray spectral regions.4 We have demonstrated a new mechanism for phase Figure 1. (a) Spectrally and angularly resolved resolution-enhanced structure (RES) generation. The atomic resonances in the vicinity of the 9th harmonic (3p6 ! 3p5ns and 3p5nd, 15–16eV) are indicated. The 11th harmonic (H11, 19–20eV) is comparatively featureless.

Generation and anisotropy of neutron emission from a condensed Z-pinch

The paper presents results of measurements of neutron emission generated in the constriction of a fast Z-pinch at the S-300 facility (2 MA, 100 ns). An increased energy concentration was achieved by using a combined load the central part of which was a microporous deuterated polyethylene neck with a mass density of 100 mg/cm3 and diameter of 1–1.5 mm. The neck was placed between two 5-mm-diameter agar-agar cylinders. The characteristics of neutron emission in two axial and two radial directions were measured by the time-of-flight method. The neutron spectrum was recovered from the measured neutron signals by the Monte Carlo method. In all experiments, the spatiotemporal characteristics of plasma in the Z-pinch constriction were measured by means of the diagnostic complex of the S-300 facility, which includes frame photography in the optical, VUV, and soft X-ray (SXR) spectral regions; optical streak imaging; SXR detection; and time-integrated SXR photography. The formation of hot dense plasma in the Z-pinch constriction was accompanied by the generation of hard X-ray (with photon energies E > 30 keV), SXR (with photon energies E > 1 keV and duration of 2–4 ns), and neutron emission. Anisotropy of the neutron energy distribution in the axial direction was revealed. The mean neutron energies measured in four directions at angles of 0° (above the anode), 90°, 180° (under the cathode), and 270° with respect to the load axis were found to be of 2.1 ± 0.1, 2.5 ± 0.1, 2.6 ± 0.2, and 2.4 ± 0.1 MeV, respectively. For a 1-mm-diameter neck, the maximum integral neutron yield was 6 × 109 neutrons. The anisotropy of neutron emission for a Z-pinch with a power-law distribution of high-energy ions is calculated.

Performance and Properties of Ultra-Thin Silicon Nitride X-ray Windows

The spectral transmittance of a new generation of SiN based X-ray windows is characterized. The windows are strengthened by low aspect-ratio support grid. As expected for this unprecedented thin window material, the transmittance in the soft X-ray spectral region outperforms the present technologies. A detailed study of the various performance properties of the fabricated SiN X-ray windows is presented. Besides their high transmittance, the windows also have high uniformity, high mechanical strength and good leak tightness. The windows can withstand temperatures from cryogenic range to approximately 250°C. SiN foils are the first real nanotechnology-based choice for the practical realization of X-ray windows and bring the performance to a level that only nanotechnology can offer.

Compression of a 20 pC e-bunch at the European XFEL for Single Spike Operation

Abstract The production of ultra-short (fs or sub-fs long), high power, radiation pulses in the x-ray spectral region, represents a challenge for many existent SASE FELs. In order to realize single spike lasing the length of the electron bunch must be extremely small (less than a micrometer) thus it is necessary to tune the linac and magnetic chicanes near to the maximum compression point. In this setup, the final length of the electron bunch strongly depends on the non-linearity of its longitudinal phase space. The use of a third harmonic RF cavity section placed right after the injector is foreseen at the European XFEL in order to correct the longitudinal phase space non-linearity up to the third order. We describe a method for the optimization of the electron bunch compression presenting beam dynamics simulations for a 20 pC electron bunch.

Direct spectrotemporal characterization of femtosecond extreme-ultraviolet pulses

We propose a method for a straightforward characterization of the temporal shape of femtosecond pulses in the extreme-ultraviolet/soft X-ray spectral region. The approach is based on the presence of a significant linear frequency chirp in the pulse. This allows to establish an homothetic relation between the pulse spectrum and its temporal profile. The theoretical approach is reminiscent of the one employed by Fraunhofer for describing far-field diffraction. As an application, we consider the case of a seeded free-electron laser (FEL). Theory is successfully benchmarked with numerical simulations and with experimental data collected on the FERMI@Elettra FEL. The proposed method provides FEL users with an on-line, shot-to-shot spectro-temporal diagnostic for time-resolved experiments.