Macroscopic effects in attosecond pulse generation

We examine how the generation and propagation of high-order harmonics in a partly ionized gas medium affect their strength and synchronization. The temporal properties of the resulting attosecond pulses generated in long gas targets can be significantly influenced by macroscopic effects, in particular by the intensity in the medium and the degree of ionization. Under some conditions, the use of gas targets longer than the absorption length can lead to the generation of self-compressed attosecond pulses. We show this effect experimentally, using long argon-filled gas cells as generating medium.Comment: 5 pages 4 figure

Spectral signature of short attosecond pulse trains

We report experimental measurements of high-order harmonic spectra generated in Ar using a carrier-envelope-offset (CEO) stabilized 12 fs, 800nm laser field and a fraction (less than 10%) of its second harmonic. Additional spectral peaks are observed between the harmonic peaks, which are due to interferences between multiple pulses in the train. The position of these peaks varies with the CEO and their number is directly related to the number of pulses in the train. An analytical model, as well as numerical simulations, support our interpretation

Coherent Electron Scattering Captured by an Attosecond Quantum Stroboscope

The basic properties of atoms, molecules and solids are governed by electron dynamics which take place on extremely short time scales. To measure and control these dynamics therefore requires ultrafast sources of radiation combined with efficient detection techniques. The generation of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond (1 as = 10-18 s) pulses has, for the first time, made direct measurements of electron dynamics possible. Nevertheless, while various applications of attosecond pulses have been demonstrated experimentally, no one has yet captured or controlled the full three dimensional motion of an electron on an attosecond time scale. Here we demonstrate an attosecond quantum stroboscope capable of guiding and imaging electron motion on a sub-femtosecond (1 fs = 10-15 s) time scale. It is based on a sequence of identical attosecond pulses which are synchronized with a guiding laser field. The pulse to pulse separation in the train is tailored to exactly match an optical cycle of the laser field and the electron momentum distributions are detected with a velocity map imaging spectrometer (VMIS). This technique has enabled us to guide ionized electrons back to their parent ion and image the scattering event. We envision that coherent electron scattering from atoms, molecules and surfaces captured by the attosecond quantum stroboscope will complement more traditional scattering techniques since it provides high temporal as well as spatial resolution.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Start-to-end simulations of plasma-wakefield acceleration using the MAX IV Linear Accelerator

Plasma-wakefield acceleration (PWFA) relies on the interaction between intense particle bunches and plasma for reaching higher accelerating gradients than what is possible with conventional radio-frequency technology. Using ultra-relativistic beam drivers allows for long acceleration lengths and have potential applications such as energy booster stages for synchrotron light sources or linear colliders and generating ultra-high-brightness beams from the background plasma. In this article, we present start-to-end simulations of the MAX IV Linear Accelerator as part of our investigations into the feasibility of using the linac for a PWFA experiment. We find that PWFA appears to be a viable application for the linac. A part of this conclusion is based on our finding that the general properties of the bunch compressor type employed in the MAX IV linac are well-suited for efficient generation of PWFA-optimized bunch current profiles, both for single- and double-bunch beams

MAX IV online LINAC model

An online linac model has been developed at MAX IV in order to enable a calculation of the properties of the linac beam based on the actual settings of the magnetic elements. The model is based on the Elegant simulation code and uses the design linac lattice file. A set of Matlab scripts fetch the actual settings of all elements via the Tango control system, pass these values on to Elegant and run the simulation. The model includes an optimization option for yielding desired beta- and alpha-function values at various points along the linac by calculating optimal settings for chosen elements

Commissioning status of the chopper system for the Max IV injector

The MAX IV facility in Lund, Sweden consists of two storage rings for production of synchrotron radiation, and a short-pulse-facility (SPF). The two rings are designed for 3 GeV and 1.5 GeV, respectively, where the initial beam commissioning of the former has recently been completed, and commissioning of the latter was started in September 2016. Both rings will be operating with top-up injections delivered by a full-energy injector. In order to reduce losses of high-energy electrons along the injector and in the rings during injection, only electrons that are within a time structure where they can be accumulated in the ring buckets are accelerated. Electrons outside this time structure are dumped before they reach the first LINAC structure by a chopper system. The performance of the chopper system during commissioning of the 3 GeV ring is presented in this paper

The New MAX IV Gun Test Stand

The gun test stand from MAX-Lab has been upgraded and moved to a new facility at the MAX IV Laboratory. The new test stand will reuse parts of the equipment from the old test stand but a number of improvements to the setup are be made. In this paper we report on the design of the new gun test stand, research plans in the near future as well as planned and possible future research topics