Title: X-ray comb generation from nuclear-resonance-stabilized x-ray free-electron laser oscillator for fundamental physics and precision metrology

Abstract

An x-ray free-electron laser oscillator (XFELO) is a next-generation x-ray source, similar to free-electron laser oscillators at VUV and longer wavelengths but using crystals as high-reflectivity x-ray mirrors. Each output pulse from an XFELO is fully coherent with high spectral purity. The temporal coherence length can further be increased drastically, from picoseconds to microseconds or even longer, by phase-locking successive XFELO output pulses, using the narrow nuclear resonance lines of nuclei such as ⁵⁷Fe as a reference. We show that the phase fluctuation due to the seismic activities is controllable and that due to spontaneous emission is small. The fluctuation of electron-bunch spacing contributes mainly to the envelope fluctuation but not to the phase fluctuation. By counting the number of standing-wave maxima formed by the output of the nuclear-resonance-stabilized (NRS) XFELO over an optically known length, the wavelength of the nuclear resonance can be accurately measured, possibly leading to a new length or frequency standard at x-ray wavelengths. A NRS-XFELO will be an ideal source for experimental x-ray quantum optics as well as other fundamental physics. The technique can be refined for other, narrower resonances such as ¹⁸¹Ta or ⁴⁵Sc.

Authors:

Adams, B. W.; Kim, K. -J.

Publication Date:

Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2015

Research Org.:

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

OSTI Identifier:

1181174

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1200872

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-06CH11357

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Physical Review Special Topics. Accelerators and Beams

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Physical Review Special Topics. Accelerators and Beams Journal Volume: 18 Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 1098-4402

Publisher:

American Physical Society

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

42 ENGINEERING