Single shot diffraction of picosecond 8.7-keV x-ray pulses

Abstract

We demonstrate multiphoton, single shot diffraction images of x rays produced by inverse Compton scattering a high-power CO 2 laser from a relativistic electron beam, creating a pulse of 8.7 keV x rays. The tightly focused, relatively high peak brightness electron beam and high photon density from the 2 J CO 2 laser yielded 6×107 x-ray photons over the full opening angle in a single shot. Single shot x-ray diffraction is performed by passing the x rays though a vertical slit and on to a flat silicon (111) crystal. 102 diffracted photons were detected. The spectrum of the detected x rays is compared to simulation. The diffraction and detection of 102 x rays is a key step to a more efficient time resolved diagnostic in which the number of observed x rays might reach 104; enabling a unique, flexible x-ray source as a sub-ps resolution diagnostic for studying the evolution of chemical reactions, lattice deformation and melting, and magnetism. Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.