SwissFEL Photonics: "Pump Laser Workshop"

Friday 16 Nov 2012, 09:00 → 17:00 Europe/Zurich

OSGA/EG06 (PSI)

1 Welcome and Introduction to SwissFEL

Speaker: Dr Rafael Abela (PSI)

2 Overview Talk - Aramis Laser System (PSI)

Speaker: Lasergroup PSI

Slides Hauri_Christoph.pdf

3 Introduction to ESA

Speaker: Dr Chris Milne (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

Slides Milne_Chris.pdf

4 ESA - Talk 1: Structural Dynamics in Hydrogen-Bonded and Transition-Metal Systems

Investigating solution-phase chemistry with X-ray spectroscopy holds great promise to unravel new structural and electronic details of chemical reactions pathways. The elemental specificity and sensitivity to oxidation state, spin, and structural arrangement in combination with ultrafast measurement schemes render X-ray-excited core-hole transitions a very effective tool to follow and characterize excited states of matter. We have investigated several solvated transition-metal complexes, relating to catalysis and photovoltaic applications, to gather detailed insight into transient valence charge densities. On the basis of past experience user needs for a suite of chemical reaction triggers and the respective requirements for a laser system at the upcoming SwissFEL will be discussed.

Speaker: Nils Huse

Slides Huse_Nils.pdf

5 ESA - Talk 2

Speaker: Andreas Galler

Slides Galler_Andreas.pdf

10:45 Coffee break

6 Introduction to ESB

Speaker: Dr Paul Beaud (Paul Scherrer Institut)

Slides Beaud_Paul.pdf

7 ESB - Talk 1

Speaker: Michael Foerst

Slides Foerst_Michael.pdf

8 ESB - Talk 2: Ultrafast dynamics in strongly correlated systems: from melting to control

X-ray free electron lasers offer unique and exciting possibilities for studying the real-time dynamics of atomic scale structure in materials when the x-rays are used as a probe. Such experiments, however, also require an appropriate stimulus of dynamics. In this talk I will discuss the different types of "pump" pulses that we can anticipate as relevant for such experiments, with some emphasis on current developments in this area relevant for the study of multiferroics and ferroelectric materials.

Speaker: Steven Johnson

Slides Johnson_Steven.pdf

9 Discussion - Wrap up ESA and ESB User Demands

Speakers: Dr Chris Milne (Paul Scherrer Institut), Dr Paul Beaud (Paul Scherrer Institut)

13:00 Business Lunch

10 Laser Responsible - Talk 1: Lasers in FEL science: bringing ultrafast optical to ultrafast x-ray experimental stations

After only three years of user operations at LCLS, the optical laser systems have evolved in many key ways. We will discuss this evolution paying close attention to stability of the lasers and components and the importance of redundancy. We will list a couple of positive and negative experiences with system components and relate that to what should be available on day one. These experiences not only show how redundancy promotes rapid trouble-shooting but also how it promotes the research and development that is increasingly needed for cutting edge optical technology. The bleeding edge of laser technology must then be immediately engineered into a stable solution on experiments and this requires a healthy fraction of engineering driven staff to focus on the "D" in R&D. We will see how some of the current R&D efforts at LCLS are pushing the frontier of optical technology and see that some staff must be driven by "big-questions" in science so that the "R" in R&D is driven by legitimate xFEL science. It is a question of management style whether these R&D efforts are leveraged to promote academic vision which in turn alleviates burnout and promotes not only staff retention but staff development.

Speaker: Ryan Coffee

Slides Coffee_Ryan.pdf

11 Laser Responsible - Talk 2

Speaker: Maximilian Lederer

Slides Lederer_Maximilian.pdf

12 Industry - Talk 1: Reliability and stability of the novel ultra-fast, high repetition rate light sources based on Ti:sapphire : the impact of pump sources

The ultrafast laser systems faced a dramatic development in the last years. The requirements in term of performances (ultra-short duration, CEP stability, high repetition rate) are completed now by the need to operate the laser systems continuously, with an extremely high repeatability of the performances. The focus of this presentation will be specifically on the impact of the pumping sources to obtain and keep the required performances.

Speaker: Federico Canova

Slides Canova_Federico.pdf

13 Industry - Talk 2: Ultrafast oscillator and kHz amplifiers for use in FELs and Synchrotrons: meeting performance and reliability demands

Ultrafast amplifiers fulfill multiple purposes when used in conjunction with FELs and particles accelerators: photoinjection, linewidth narrowing and time-resolved experiments. All of these tasks pose specific requirements on the laser sources, inclusive of non-standard performances, tight synchronization with the accelerator and minimal downtime. In this presentation we will review how substantial improvements in power, stability and reliability have been achieved in the current generation of oscillators and amplifiers.

Speaker: Marco Arrigoni

Slides Arrigoni_Marco.pdf

15:40 Coffee break

14 Discussion - Wrap up afternoon

Speakers: Christoph Hauri (Paul Scherrer Institut), Marta Divall (Paul Scherrer Institut)