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Free-electron lasers

The X-ray science frontier is ultra-short and ultra-intense

Nature Photonics volume 18, pages 649–650 (2024)Cite this article

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Real-time electron dynamics studies of complex systems require bright attosecond pump-probe capabilities at X-ray wavelengths. Nano-focusing schemes reaching intensities in excess of 1022 W cm–2 and superradiant cascaded amplification of attosecond pulses to TW powers at free-electron lasers are providing transformative capabilities in this burgeoning field.

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Fig. 1: Cascaded amplification of attosecond X-rays.

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  1. Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Sam M. Vinko

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  1. Sam M. Vinko
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Correspondence to Sam M. Vinko.

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Vinko, S.M. The X-ray science frontier is ultra-short and ultra-intense. Nat. Photon. 18, 649–650 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-024-01471-6

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