Articles tagged with Free Electron Lasers
SLAC researchers develop a laser-based shaping technique to compress billions of electrons into a length less than one micrometer, producing an electron beam with femtosecond-duration and petawatt peak power. This achievement opens up new discoveries in quantum chemistry, astrophysics, and material science.
Scientists use European X-ray Free Electron Laser to detect axions, which could provide evidence for new physics beyond Standard Model. The experiment sets stage for future searches in milli- to kilo-electron volt mass range.
The Department of Energy's new research centers, led by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, aim to make microelectronics more energy efficient and operate in extreme environments. Researchers will focus on innovating material design, devices, and systems architectures to push computing and sensing capabilities.
Researchers at SwissFEL have achieved breakthroughs in improving the temporal coherence of XFEL pulses by inserting magnetic chicanes to control the timing of the electron beam. This advancement opens new scientific opportunities in fields requiring precise spectral control, such as fundamental physics and applied sciences.
Researchers have observed symmetry-breaking dynamics in ionized CO₂ dimers, leading to the formation of CO₃ moieties. This phenomenon has significant implications for atmospheric chemistry and astrochemistry, providing new insights into molecular behavior under extreme conditions.
A team of researchers has determined a fundamental spatial limit for light-driven magnetization reversal in nanometer-scale materials. They found that the minimum size for all-optical switching is around 25 nm due to ultrafast lateral electron diffusion, which rapidly cools illuminated regions.
Researchers developed a new technique to view living mammalian cells using ultrafast pulses of illumination from a soft X-ray free electron laser. The microscope captured images of carbon-based structures in living cells with high spatial resolution and a wide field of view, revealing new insights into cellular biology.
A team of researchers has identified the intrinsic interactions responsible for light-induced ferroelectricity in SrTiO3. By measuring fluctuations in atomic positions, they found that mid-infrared excitation suppresses certain lattice vibrations, leading to a more ordered dipolar structure.
Researchers at UC Davis have found that ultrafast laser pulses can significantly reduce the energy needs of data storage. The pulses accelerate magnetic domains, allowing for faster and more stable memory storage. This technology has the potential to revolutionize spintronic devices such as hard disk drives.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have developed a key process for next-gen X-ray lasers, demonstrating the use of synthetic diamond crystal mirrors to steer X-ray pulses around a rectangular racetrack. The achievement marks an important step towards creating brighter and more stable X-ray laser pulses.
A new technique combining ultrafast physics and spectroscopy reveals the dance of molecular 'coherence' in unprecedented clarity. This shows a vibrational effect, rather than motion for the functional part of the biological reaction that follows.
Researchers have developed an algorithm that can be used to evaluate measurements at X-ray free-electron lasers, improving the precision of protein film analysis. The new method, called low-pass spectral analysis (LPSA), mitigates errors in protein movement reconstruction, allowing for more detailed information to be extracted from data.
Researchers capture elusive missing step in photosynthesis using SLAC's X-ray laser, revealing an intermediate reaction step that sheds light on how nature optimizes photosynthesis. The data provide a blueprint for optimizing clean energy sources and avoiding side products.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Arizona State University $90.8 million to advance x-ray science, including the construction of the world's first Compact X-ray Free Electron Laser. This technology will enable researchers to explore complex matter at atomic length and ultrafast time, paving the way for breakthroughs in human ...
Researchers create a new method, CCI, to capture high-resolution images of material fluctuations using powerful X-ray sources. The technique allows for non-destructive imaging and reveals patterns that were previously inaccessible.
A new study uses serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography to reveal the structure of NendoU protein at room temperature. The resulting high-resolution image shows that the protein's flexibility plays a crucial role in its functional mechanism, which is essential for designing antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2.
The study found that titanium and sapphire lasers produce highly crystalline LIPSS with minimal strain, while free-electron lasers lead to defects but no observable strain. The findings suggest tuning LIPSS properties by manipulating laser parameters, paving the way for cost-effective nanostructured surface fabrication.
Researchers have developed a new imaging method that captures the light-induced phase transition in vanadium oxide (VO2) with high spatial and temporal resolution. The study reveals that pressure plays a larger role in these transitions than previously expected, challenging previous conclusions.
Researchers have developed a new software based on artificial intelligence that can help interpret complex data. The software, called disentangled variational autoencoder network (β-VAE), uses two neural networks to compress and reconstruct data, allowing humans to understand the underlying core principle without prior knowledge.
A team of researchers from Synchrotron SOLEIL, France, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Germany, has successfully demonstrated a free-electron laser driven by plasma acceleration and seeded by additional light pulses. This achievement could lead to the development of more compact and affordable FEL systems.
Researchers propose a simple method to generate intense isolated attosecond x-ray pulses using wavefront control, overcoming previous limitations. The new approach requires only a 100 fs conventional laser, making it feasible for current FEL facilities.
Physicists at HZDR and CASUS improved the density functional theory method to accurately describe quantum many-body systems, breaking a significant simplification. This enables studies of non-linear phenomena in complex materials with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution.
Researchers at the European XFEL facility have taken pictures of gas-phase iodopyridine molecules at atomic resolution using ultra-bright X-ray pulses. The images were reconstructed from the fragments caused by a Coulomb explosion, providing unprecedented clarity for this method and molecule size.
Researchers have developed a way to change the atomic structure of tin selenide using intense pulses of near-infrared laser light, creating materials with dramatic new properties. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for improving thermoelectrics and other materials by controlling their structure.
Researchers have developed a new approach to determine the structures of tiny crystals relevant to chemistry and materials science. The new method, called smSFX, uses ultrafast pulses from an X-ray free-electron laser to collect structural information before damage sets in.
Scientists have developed a new technique called small-molecule serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography (smSFX) that can reveal the structures of not-so-neat-and-tidy materials. This method uses an exceptional X-ray laser and custom-built image processing algorithms to diffract individual granules of powders, providing a precise sharp...
A team at HZB and PTB developed a method to measure the lateral expansion of the electron beam in laser plasma accelerators, achieving resolutions in the micrometre range. This technique uses coherent radiation of electron pulses via interference patterns to determine the beam cross-section.
Researchers have directly measured the interaction between an ultraviolet laser and a relativistic electron beam in a dipole magnet. The study shows that energy modulation of the electron beam can be effectively tailored, leading to precise bends in the pathway and improved FEL pulse properties.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde have developed a new method to produce coherent radiation using a short undulator and attosecond duration electron bunches. This approach could revolutionize light sources by making them compact, table-top size and capable of producing ultra-short duration pulses of light.
Scientists have developed a new scheme to generate intense XUV pulses using near-infrared lasers, shrinking the need for large laboratory facilities. The setup produces high-intensity XUV pulses with potential applications in attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy and nanoscale imaging.
Researchers at DESY have achieved two critical milestones in developing innovative plasma accelerators. By combining nitrogen and artificial intelligence, they significantly reduced the energy distribution of accelerated electron bunches, a crucial property for various applications. The team also successfully used AI to optimize the ac...
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have created a new technique to measure ultrafast extreme ultraviolet laser pulses. By utilizing photoionization as an optical shutter, they can encode the electric field of the pulse in a visible light signal, allowing for its measurement with a standard camera.
A team of scientists from Argonne National Laboratory developed a method to dramatically improve ultrafast time resolution achievable with X-ray free-electron lasers. This breakthrough enables new insights into the behavior of materials and chemical processes, allowing for more efficient designs and discoveries.
The study provides important findings for the solar industry by analyzing solar cell processes at an ultra-fast scale. The researchers used time-resolved X-ray photoemission spectroscopy to identify a previously unobserved channel for charge separation, revealing new insights into quantum efficiency and optimization possibilities.
A team of researchers has precisely recorded the dependence of resonant magnetic scattering intensity on x-ray intensity using a ferromagnetic domain sample. They found that the loss in scattered x-ray intensity is due to transient demagnetization, not stimulated emission. This clarification has important ramifications for future singl...
Scientists from Osaka University have reduced X-ray free-electron laser beam diameter to 6 nanometers, enabling precise imaging of single virus particles and ultrafast chemical processes. This advancement improves the accuracy of measurements closer to the atomic level than previously possible.
A new study simulates electron dynamics during femtosecond laser ablation of MoS2, revealing two types of ablation mechanisms and distinct electron dynamics. The results show that higher fluence induces superheated liquid formation, leading to dramatic changes in reflectivity and micro-honeycomb structures.
Researchers have accurately described the interaction energy among three water molecules for the first time. The study uses advanced spectroscopy and quantum calculations to analyze the intermolecular vibrations of water trimers.
Scientists at the University of Freiburg have developed a method to control electronic dynamics in real time by shaping attosecond pulses. This breakthrough allows for the study of molecular or crystal responses and has potential applications in optimizing processes like photosynthesis and charge separation.
Scientists have observed the ultrafast reaction of nanobubbles in helium droplets after extreme ultraviolet radiation (XUV) excitation. The findings help understand how nanoparticles interact with energetic radiation and decay, essential information for directly imaging individual nanoparticles.
Researchers investigate possibility of facilitating controlled fusion reactions with assisted tunneling processes using X-ray free electron lasers. Theoretical results show promise for increasing tunneling rate, paving way for successful controlled fusion reaction.
Researchers discovered asymmetrical movement of free electrons in photoelectric effect, enabling better control over electrons and potentially improving chemistry reactions. The study used ultrashort laser pulses to disrupt the electrons' behavior, allowing them to move sideways for the first time.
Researchers developed a mid-infrared picosecond laser-driven electron avalanche technique to detect electric charges and chemicals in air. They measured electron densities down to one part per quadrillion, equivalent to picking out one free electron from a million billion normal air molecules.
Researchers have developed a new instrument to create nanodroplets capable of delivering biological samples free from contaminants. This breakthrough allows for the first-time imaging of smaller proteins and structures, advancing the quest to understand dynamic biomolecules.
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) has contributed to the special edition on ultrafast dynamics with X-ray methods, focusing on photochemistry and material science. Femtoslicing and BESSY VSR methods have been classified, providing a comprehensive overview of current advances in generating ultra-short X-ray pulses.
Physicists at UMD developed a new method to detect radioactive material remotely using an infrared laser beam. The technique induces an electron avalanche breakdown near the material, allowing detection from a distance. With further development, it could be used to scan trucks and shipping containers at ports of entry.
A new research group at the University of Jena has demonstrated quantum vacuum processes for the first time, using strong fields and high-performance lasers. The experiments aim to provide evidence for fundamental physics assumptions, with potential applications in medicine, life sciences, and materials research.
A Japanese team has developed a new technique for manufacturing ultraprecise multilayer focusing mirrors that can achieve X-ray beam sizes of less than ten nanometers. This breakthrough enables high-performance X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) with improved quality and intensity.
Researchers at Kiel University developed a new computer simulations method to accurately describe dynamic properties of warm dense matter. The study provides unique insights into the behavior of electrons under extreme conditions.
Researchers from ITMO University and the University of Rochester successfully generated terahertz radiation in a liquid medium, demonstrating its efficiency comparable to solid-state sources. The team found that liquids have several advantages over gases, including higher electron density and lower pumping energy requirements.
Researchers use X-ray laser to heat water from room temperature to 100,000 degrees Celsius in less than a tenth of a picosecond, producing an exotic state of matter. This study has significant implications for understanding the properties of water and its behavior under extreme conditions.
Researchers at Lomonosov Moscow State University and international colleagues determine ultrashort X-ray laser pulse energy and time characteristics using the angular streaking method. This allows for individual pulse measurement with high temporal resolution, opening up new avenues for studying ultra-fast molecular processes.
Researchers observed a dramatic reduction in the time taken to emit the first x-ray as the number of x-rays increased, in good agreement with Dicke's prediction. This behavior is consistent with the concept of superradiance, where a group of atoms emit light at a faster rate than a single atom.
Researchers use ultra-bright X-ray light to ionize a molecule, creating a 'molecular black hole' that explodes within a trillionth of a second. The study provides crucial information for analyzing complex molecules with X-ray lasers.
A German research team developed a high-power, pulsed optical laser synchronized with the XFEL pulses, offering tunability in wavelength and pulse duration. The laser system will be published in Optics Express and is designed for experiments at atomic-scale measurements.
Researchers at DESY and MIT create a miniaturized electron gun that accelerates electrons to high speeds using terahertz radiation. The device has the potential to revolutionize ultrafast electron diffraction experiments and enable new applications in physics and materials science.
Researchers at Kansas State University have successfully recorded a chemical reaction that happens as fast as a quadrillionth of a second using a laser. This breakthrough enables scientists to understand and control chemical reactions, leading to better control and potential applications in multiple areas of science.
A team of researchers from China, South Korea, and the US proposes a novel way to minimize the energy spread of electrons in laser wakefield accelerators. By inserting a plasma compressor, they can reduce the energy spread to the one-thousandth level, making new applications for laser wakefield accelerators possible.
Researchers have created a new machine-learning algorithm that reduces timing uncertainties in changing events by up to 300 times, allowing for more accurate dating and analysis of past events. The tool has applications in various fields, including geology, metrology, chemistry, biology, and astronomy.
Researchers successfully control ultrafast electron motion using FERMI's light, achieving a time resolution of 3 attoseconds. This breakthrough enables the study of fast chemical reactions on the scale of attoseconds, shedding new light on processes like photosynthesis and combustion.