Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Recent results obtained at the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) are opening new opportunities in further advancing the temporal resolution of Terahertz-field-driven X-ray (TFDX) streak cameras. High-energy, few-cycle mid-infrared (MIR) lasers have been developed, which currently could be found in only a few laboratories in the world. Using the intense MIR and near-IR beam lines at ALLS, ultra-intense THz sources with ~5 MV/cm THz electric field have been developed. This is 10 times that used by Früling et al., and thus could greatly improve the temporal resolution of the TFDX streak camera, down to the few femtosecond level. In this project, we propose to further scale up this intense THz source, and use it to develop a TFDX streak camera that could measure the temporal profile of femtosecond to sub-picosecond X-rays with sub-femtosecond (attosecond) resolution. This could be a complementary and niche approach to the current worldwide efforts in attosecond science. To enable this project, we are requesting high average power pump lasers, which will replace the current pump lasers of the ALLS 100 Hz beam line. There is an urgent need to replace these pump lasers, as they have considerably exceeded their typical lifetime, and may fail at any time. We would also like to note that up to now, the ALLS 100 Hz beam line has been used by 27 professors, 18 researchers, 13 postdocs and 35 students from 22 institutions and 9 countries, whose research would also be greatly affected if these pump lasers are not replaced now.