Published February 2006 | Version v1
Journal article

First operation of a free-electron laser generating GW power radiation at 32 nm wavelength

Creators

Description

Many scientific disciplines ranging from physics, chemistry and biology to material sciences, geophysics and medical diagnostics need a powerful X-ray source with pulse lengths in the femtosecond range. Such radiation of extreme intensity, and tunable over a wide range of wavelengths, can be accomplished using high-gain free-electron lasers (FEL). Here we present results of the first successful operation of an FEL at a wavelength of 32 nm, with ultra-short pulses (25 fs FWHM), a peak power at the Gigawatt level, and a high degree of transverse and longitudinal coherence. We have demonstrated during the first operation of the VUV-FEL (vacuum-ultra-violet free-electron laser) at DESY that powerful, laser-like VUV radiation pulses in the 10 fs range can be produced with a simple and reliable single-pass SASE FEL (self-amplified spontaneous emission) scheme. The experimental data are in full agreement with theory. This is the shortest wavelength achieved with an FEL to date and an important milestone towards a user facility designed for wavelengths down to 6 nm. With a peak brilliance exceeding the state-of-the-art of synchrotron radiation sources by seven orders of magnitude, this device opens a new field of experiments, and it paves the way towards sources with even shorter wavelengths

Availability note (English)

Available from doi: <http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2005-00308-1

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Publishing Information

Journal Title
European Physical Journal. D, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Journal Volume
37
Journal Issue
no.2
Journal Page Range
p. 297-303
ISSN
1434-6060

Optional Information

Notes
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