The ability to produce ultrashort, high-brightness X-ray pulses is revolutionizing the field of ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy. Free-electron laser (FEL) facilities are driving this revolution, but unique aspects of the FEL process make the required characterization and use of the pulses challenging. In this paper, we describe a number of developments in the generation of ultrashort X-ray FEL pulses, and the concomitant progress in the experimental capabilities necessary for their characterization and use at the Linac Coherent Light Source. This includes the development of sub-femtosecond hard and soft X-ray pulses, along with ultrafast characterization techniques for these pulses. We also describe improved techniques for optical cross-correlation as needed to address the persistent challenge of external optical laser synchronization with these ultrashort X-ray pulses. This article is part of the theme issue 'Measurement of ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics with X-rays'.
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CITATION STYLE
Coffee, R. N., Cryan, J. P., Duris, J., Helml, W., Li, S., & Marinelli, A. (2019, May 20). Development of ultrafast capabilities for X-ray free-electron lasers at the linac coherent light source. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. Royal Society Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2018.0386