| Issue |
J. Phys. IV France
Volume 12, Number 5, June 2002
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|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 59 - 67 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:20020097 | |
J. Phys. IV France 12 (2002) Pr5-59
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20020097
New sources of ultrashort pulse X-ray radiation and applications
J.-C. Gauthier1 and A. Rousse21 Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses, UMR 7605 du CNRS, CEA, Université Paris 6, École Polytechnique, route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
2 Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, UMR 7639 du CNRS, ENSTA, École Polytechnique, chemin de la Hunière, 91761 Palaiseau, France
Abstract
The world of x-ray sources is divided between large "third generation" synchrotron and the user-friendlier "table-top" sources
using the emission from plasmas produced by lasers or electrical discharges. The use of x-ray sources has become more and
more widespread in many disciplines of basic research and engineering because x-rays are invaluable tools for imagery, defect
analysis, and material composition and structure determination. X-ray sources are now capable of producing ultra short pulses
with duration ranging from tens of picoseconds to less than one picosecond, giving access to the time scale of elementary
processes such as molecular vibrations, and gaining information about the transition state in reactive biological molecules.
This paper describes these new x-ray sources and techniques and reviews the first experiments dedicated to the analysis of
atomic motions on this time-scale.
© EDP Sciences 2002