Synchrotrons are powerful and productive in revealing the spatiotemporal
complexities in matter. However, X-ray pulses produced by the synchrotrons are
predetermined in specific patterns and widths, limiting their operational
flexibility and temporal resolution. Here, we introduce the on-chip picosecond
synchrotron pulse shaper that shapes the sub-nm-wavelength hard X-ray pulses at
individual beamlines, flexibly and efficiently beyond the synchrotron pulse
limit. The pulse shaper is developed using the widely available
silicon-on-insulator technology, oscillates in torsional motion at the same
frequency or at harmonics of the storage ring, and manipulates X-ray pulses
through the narrow Bragg peak of the crystalline silicon. Stable pulse
manipulation is achieved by synchronizing the shaper timing to the X-ray timing
using electrostatic closed-loop control. Tunable shaping windows down to 40
ps are demonstrated, allowing X-ray pulse picking, streaking, and slicing in
the majority of worldwide synchrotrons. The compact, on-chip shaper offers a
simple but versatile approach to boost synchrotron operating flexibility and to
investigate structural dynamics from condensed matter to biological systems
beyond the current synchrotron-source limit