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Broadband high-resolution X-ray frequency combs

Nature Photonics volume 8, pages 520–523 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Optical frequency combs have had a remarkable impact on precision spectroscopy1,2,3. Enabling this technology in the X-ray domain is expected to result in wide-ranging applications, such as stringent tests of astrophysical models and quantum electrodynamics4, a more sensitive search for the variability of fundamental constants5, and precision studies of nuclear structure6. Ultraprecise X-ray atomic clocks may also be envisaged7. In this work, an X-ray pulse-shaping method is proposed to generate a comb in the absorption spectrum of an ultrashort high-frequency pulse. The method employs an optical-frequency-comb laser, manipulating the system's dipole response to imprint a comb on an excited transition with a high photon energy. The described scheme provides higher comb frequencies and requires lower optical-comb peak intensities than currently explored methods8,9,10, preserves the overall width of the optical comb, and may be implemented using currently available X-ray technology11.

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Figure 1: Three-level scheme used to describe the interaction between the model system and the driving fields.
Figure 2: Time evolution and X-ray frequency comb absorption spectrum driven by a resonant optical frequency comb.
Figure 3: X-ray comb absorption spectrum driven by a detuned optical frequency comb.

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Acknowledgements

T.P. acknowledges support from the Max Planck Research Group programme and the DFG (grant no. PF790/1-1).

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Author notes

  1. Christian Ott

    Present address: Present address: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg, 69117, Germany

    Stefano M. Cavaletto, Zoltán Harman, Christian Ott, Christian Buth, Thomas Pfeifer & Christoph H. Keitel

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  1. Stefano M. Cavaletto
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  2. Zoltán Harman
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  3. Christian Ott
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  4. Christian Buth
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  6. Christoph H. Keitel
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Contributions

S.M.C. developed the mathematical model, performed the analytical calculations and wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to the development of ideas, discussion of the technical aspects and results, and preparation of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Stefano M. Cavaletto.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Cavaletto, S., Harman, Z., Ott, C. et al. Broadband high-resolution X-ray frequency combs. Nature Photon 8, 520–523 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2014.113

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