Coherent THz Emission Enhanced by Coherent Synchrotron Radiation Wakefield.

We demonstrate that emission of coherent transition radiation by a ∼1 GeV energy-electron beam passing through an Al foil is enhanced in intensity and extended in frequency spectral range, by the energy correlation established along the beam by coherent synchrotron radiation wakefield, in the presence of a proper electron optics in the beam delivery system. Analytical and numerical models, based on experimental electron beam parameters collected at the FERMI free electron laser (FEL), predict transition radiation with two intensity peaks at ∼0.3 THz and ∼1.5 THz, and extending up to 8.5 THz with intensity above 20 dB w.r.t. the main peak. Up to 80-µJ pulse energy integrated over the full bandwidth is expected at the source, and in agreement with experimental pulse energy measurements. By virtue of its implementation in an FEL beam dump line, this work promises dissemination of user-oriented multi-THz beamlines parasitic and self-synchronized to EUV and x-ray FELs.

Soft X-Ray Second Harmonic Generation as an Interfacial Probe.

Nonlinear optical processes at soft x-ray wavelengths have remained largely unexplored due to the lack of available light sources with the requisite intensity and coherence. Here we report the observation of soft x-ray second harmonic generation near the carbon K edge (∼284 eV) in graphite thin films generated by high intensity, coherent soft x-ray pulses at the FERMI free electron laser. Our experimental results and accompanying first-principles theoretical analysis highlight the effect of resonant enhancement above the carbon K edge and show the technique to be interfacially sensitive in a centrosymmetric sample with second harmonic intensity arising primarily from the first atomic layer at the open surface. This technique and the associated theoretical framework demonstrate the ability to selectively probe interfaces, including those that are buried, with elemental specificity, providing a new tool for a range of scientific problems.

Time-Resolved Measurement of Interatomic Coulombic Decay Induced by Two-Photon Double Excitation of Ne_{2}.

The hitherto unexplored two-photon doubly excited states [Ne^{*}(2p^{-1}3s)]_{2} were experimentally identified using the seeded, fully coherent, intense extreme ultraviolet free-electron laser FERMI. These states undergo ultrafast interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD), which predominantly produces singly ionized dimers. In order to obtain the rate of ICD, the resulting yield of Ne_{2}^{+} ions was recorded as a function of delay between the extreme ultraviolet pump and UV probe laser pulses. The extracted lifetimes of the long-lived doubly excited states, 390(-130/+450) fs, and of the short-lived ones, less than 150 fs, are in good agreement with ab initio quantum mechanical calculations.

Slow Interatomic Coulombic Decay of Multiply Excited Neon Clusters.

Ne clusters (∼5000 atoms) were resonantly excited (2p→3s) by intense free electron laser (FEL) radiation at FERMI. Such multiply excited clusters can decay nonradiatively via energy exchange between at least two neighboring excited atoms. Benefiting from the precise tunability and narrow bandwidth of seeded FEL radiation, specific sites of the Ne clusters were probed. We found that the relaxation of cluster surface atoms proceeds via a sequence of interatomic or intermolecular Coulombic decay (ICD) processes while ICD of bulk atoms is additionally affected by the surrounding excited medium via inelastic electron scattering. For both cases, cluster excitations relax to atomic states prior to ICD, showing that this kind of ICD is rather slow (picosecond range). Controlling the average number of excitations per cluster via the FEL intensity allows a coarse tuning of the ICD rate.

Single Shot Polarization Characterization of XUV FEL Pulses from Crossed Polarized Undulators.

Polarization control is a key feature of light generated by short-wavelength free-electron lasers. In this work, we report the first experimental characterization of the polarization properties of an extreme ultraviolet high gain free-electron laser operated with crossed polarized undulators. We investigate the average degree of polarization and the shot-to-shot stability and we analyze aspects such as existing possibilities for controlling and switching the polarization state of the emitted light. The results are in agreement with predictions based on Gaussian beams propagation.

The FERMI free-electron lasers.

FERMI is a seeded free-electron laser (FEL) facility located at the Elettra laboratory in Trieste, Italy, and is now in user operation with its first FEL line, FEL-1, covering the wavelength range between 100 and 20 nm. The second FEL line, FEL-2, a high-gain harmonic generation double-stage cascade covering the wavelength range 20-4 nm, has also completed commissioning and the first user call has been recently opened. An overview of the typical operating modes of the facility is presented.

Two-colour pump-probe experiments with a twin-pulse-seed extreme ultraviolet free-electron laser.

Exploring the dynamics of matter driven to extreme non-equilibrium states by an intense ultrashort X-ray pulse is becoming reality, thanks to the advent of free-electron laser technology that allows development of different schemes for probing the response at variable time delay with a second pulse. Here we report the generation of two-colour extreme ultraviolet pulses of controlled wavelengths, intensity and timing by seeding of high-gain harmonic generation free-electron laser with multiple independent laser pulses. The potential of this new scheme is demonstrated by the time evolution of a titanium-grating diffraction pattern, tuning the two coherent pulses to the titanium M-resonance and varying their intensities. This reveals that an intense pulse induces abrupt pattern changes on a time scale shorter than hydrodynamic expansion and ablation. This result exemplifies the essential capabilities of the jitter-free multiple-colour free-electron laser pulse sequences to study evolving states of matter with element sensitivity.

Coherent light with tunable polarization from single-pass free-electron lasers.

Tunable polarization over a wide spectral range is a required feature of light sources employed to investigate the properties of local symmetry in matter. In this Letter, we provide the first experimental characterization of the polarization of the harmonic light produced by a free-electron laser and demonstrate a method to obtain free-electron laser harmonics with tunable polarization. Experimental results are successfully compared with theory. Our findings can be expected to have a deep impact on the design and realization of experiments requiring full control of light polarization.

Advanced photoelectric effect experiment beamline at Elettra: A surface science laboratory coupled with Synchrotron Radiation.

We report the main characteristics of the advanced photoelectric effect experiments beamline, operational at Elettra storage ring, featuring a fully independent double branch scheme obtained by the use of chicane undulators and able to keep polarization control in both linear and circular mode. The paper describes the novel technical solutions adopted, namely, (a) the design of a quasiperiodic undulator resulting in optimized suppression of higher harmonics over a large photon energy range (10-100 eV), (b) the thermal stability of optics under high heat load via cryocoolers, and (c) the end station interconnected setup allowing full access to off-beam and on-beam facilities and, at the same time, the integration of users' specialized sample growth chambers or modules.

Experimental characterization of nonlinear harmonic generation in planar and helical undulators.

We present an experimental characterization of the process of coherent harmonic generation in single-pass free electron lasers. The harmonic radiation is obtained by seeding the electron beam stored in the Elettra storage ring with a Ti:sapphire laser. Different methods for generating harmonics are compared between them, and a detailed characterization of the emitted light is performed for different polarizations. Our results also contribute to the debate about the possible presence of a coherent on-axis signal in helical undulators. In this respect, we provide an experimental confirmation of recent theoretical studies that predict no coherent on-axis signal.

Self-induced harmonic generation in a storage-ring free-electron laser.

Coherent radiation from a relativistic electron beam is a valuable way to overcome the present limitations of conventional lasers and synchrotron radiation light sources. The typical scheme has electrons, directly from a linac, in a single-pass interaction with a laser pulse in the presence of a static undulator magnetic field. We demonstrate that a storage-ring free-electron laser can also achieve harmonic generation (down to 36.5 nm), presenting both experimental and theoretical results, and offer a reliable interpretation of the peculiar underlying physical processes involved.

Dynamics and stabilization of the Elettra storage-ring free-electron laser.

The ultimate performance of a storage-ring free-electron laser in terms of light stability and extracted power depends on the possibility of simultaneously controlling the electron-beam and laser dynamics. As a preliminary requirement, the level of longitudinal and transverse electron-beam stability must be high enough to guarantee the laser start-up and growth. This is usually obtained by means of dedicated feedback systems. Once such a requirement is satisfied, the possibility of establishing and maintaining a continuous-wave operation mode finally resides in a deep understanding of the strongly coupled laser-electrons dynamics. For this purpose, we have developed a simple theoretical model which has been proved to be able to provide insight into the evolution of the laser intensity. In this framework, we have also proposed the possibility of utilizing a derivative closed-loop feedback to create or enlarge the region of stable signal. A feedback of this type has been implemented on the Elettra storage-ring free-electron laser. The obtained results, which fully confirm our predictions, are discussed in this paper.