Abstract

We present a novel system for ultrafast x-ray measurements using a synchrotron source. A short-pulse laser and an ultrafast sub-picosecond x-ray detector are accurately synchronized to the synchrotron (Advanced Light Source at LBL). Although the x-ray pulse duration is relatively long (≈30–90 ps depending on the mode of operation), we can still perform ultrafast time-resolution laser-pump, x-ray-probe experiments because of the fast time response of our detector.^1,2 However, because of the limited photon flux per pulse (in the narrow bandwidth determined by a double crystal monochromator), coupled with the low quantum efficiency of x-ray photocathodes, we accumulate the signal over many shots to improve our signal-to-noise ratio. Thus we operate the streak camera in an averaging mode, with a jitter (relative to the laser pulse) that is comparable to the required time resolution for our experiments.

© 1997 Optical Society of America