Abstract
Single-shot absorption measurements have been performed using the multi-keV x rays generated by a laser-wakefield accelerator. A 200 TW laser was used to drive a laser-wakefield accelerator in a mode which produced broadband electron beams with a maximum energy above 1 GeV and a broad divergence of ≈15 mrad FWHM. Betatron oscillations of these electrons generated 1.2 0.2 × 106 photons=eV in the 5 keV region, with a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 300∶1. This was sufficient to allow high resolution x-ray absorption near-edge structure measurements at the K edge of a titanium sample in a single shot. We demonstrate that this source is capable of single-shot, simultaneous measurements of both the electron and ion distributions in matter heated to eV temperatures by comparison with density functional theory simulations. The unique combination of a high-flux, large bandwidth, few femtosecond duration x-ray pulse synchronized to a high-power laser will enable key advances in the study of ultrafast energetic processes such as electron-ion equilibration.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 254801 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 123 |
Issue number | 25 |
Early online date | 17 Dec 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Dec 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)