Single-shot 35 fs temporal resolution electron shadowgraphy

Abstract

We obtain single-shot time-resolved shadowgraph images of the electromagnetic fields resulting from the interaction of a high intensity ultrashort laser pulse with a metal surface. Using a high brightness relativistic electron beam and a high streaking speed radiofrequency deflector, we report <35 fs temporal resolution enabling a direct visualization of the retarded-time dominated field evolution which follows the laser-induced charge emission. A model including the finite signal propagation speed well reproduces the data and yields measurements of fundamental parameters in short pulse laser-matter interaction such as the amount of emitted charge and the emission time scale.

Mega-electron-volt ultrafast electron diffraction at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

“…A shadowgraph of laser-generated ultrafast plasma from TEM grids is used to determine the time-zero with ∼100-fs accuracy. [46][47][48][49][50] The electron detector consists of a P43 phosphor screen perpendicular to the beam path, a 45…”

Ultrafast imaging of isolated molecules with electron diffraction

“…All of these compression methods come at the expense of a timing jitter between laser and electrons. The ultimate solution could be to tag the time of arrival of each electron pulse with respect to the laser, using a streak camera [38,91], an RF cavity with a transverse field [92] or an ultrafast process with a known temporal evolution that is measured simultaneously with the diffraction pattern.…”

Temporal magnification for streaked ultrafast electron diffraction and microscopy

“…In this streaking modality, the temporal resolution is set by the strength of the deflection element and so it can be much shorter than the electron pulse length or pump-probe jitter (which limits most pump-probe techniques). For example, single shot temporal resolution of 30 fs (rms) has been demonstrated using a 9.6 GHz RF cavity and a 3 MeV electron beam to monitor the fast expansion of an electron cloud generated when an ultrashort laser pulse hits a metal surface [14].…”