Oxford Centre for High Energy Density Science (OxCHEDS)

Abstract:

The resolution obtained with coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) is limited by a number of factors, one of which is the transverse coherence of the illuminating beam. For a successful reconstruction, it is accepted that the illuminating beam should have a lateral coherence length of at least twice the largest linear dimension of the sample

Abstract:

Driving bright high-order harmonic generation (HHG) with few-μJ pulses is a crucial step towards compact, high average power sources of coherent extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation for time-integrated applications including imaging. Unfortunately, reaching a sufficiently strong E-field to perform HHG with these pulses requires tight focusing, greatly reducing the interaction volume. An elegant solution to this problem is to restrict HHG to a hollow waveguide [1] and in particular a photonic crystal fiber [2]. Strong reabsorption in the XUV prohibits the use of multi-atmosphere pressures to achieve phase-matching [3], and instead quasi-phase-matching (QPM) is preferred. Here we demonstrate QPM of HHG for the first time within a gas-filled PCF.

Abstract:

We investigate HHG in gas-filled PCFs with microjoule driving lasers. QPM is implemented for the first time, enhancing the flux at 30 eV by a factor of 60.

Abstract:

Pressure-driven shock waves in solid materials can cause extreme damage and deformation. Understanding this deformation and the associated defects that are created in the material is crucial in the study of a wide range of phenomena, including planetary formation and asteroid impact sites, the formation of interstellar dust clouds, ballistic penetrators, spacecraft shielding and ductility in high-performance ceramics. At the lattice level, the basic mechanisms of plastic deformation are twinning (whereby crystallites with a mirror-image lattice form) and slip (whereby lattice dislocations are generated and move), but determining which of these mechanisms is active during deformation is challenging. Experiments that characterized lattice defects have typically examined the microstructure of samples after deformation, and so are complicated by post-shock annealing and reverberations. In addition, measurements have been limited to relatively modest pressures (less than 100 gigapascals). In situ X-ray diffraction experiments can provide insights into the dynamic behaviour of materials, but have only recently been applied to plasticity during shock compression and have yet to provide detailed insight into competing deformation mechanisms. Here we present X-ray diffraction experiments with femtosecond resolution that capture in situ, lattice-level information on the microstructural processes that drive shock-wave-driven deformation. To demonstrate this method we shock-compress the body-centred-cubic material tantalum-an important material for high-energy-density physics owing to its high shock impedance and high X-ray opacity. Tantalum is also a material for which previous shock compression simulations and experiments have provided conflicting information about the dominant deformation mechanism. Our experiments reveal twinning and related lattice rotation occurring on the timescale of tens of picoseconds. In addition, despite the common association between twinning and strong shocks, we find a transition from twinning to dislocation-slip-dominated plasticity at high pressure (more than 150 gigapascals), a regime that recovery experiments cannot accurately access. The techniques demonstrated here will be useful for studying shock waves and other high-strain-rate phenomena, as well as a broad range of processes induced by plasticity.

Abstract:

This review is focused on free-electron lasers (FELs) in the hard to soft x-ray regime. The aim is to provide newcomers to the area with insights into: the basic physics of FELs, the qualities of the radiation they produce, the challenges of transmitting that radiation to end users and the diversity of current scientific applications. Initial consideration is given to FEL theory in order to provide the foundation for discussion of FEL output properties and the technical challenges of short-wavelength FELs. This is followed by an overview of existing x-ray FEL facilities, future facilities and FEL frontiers. To provide a context for information in the above sections, a detailed comparison of the photon pulse characteristics of FEL sources with those of other sources of high brightness x-rays is made. A brief summary of FEL beamline design and photon diagnostics then precedes an overview of FEL scientific applications. Recent highlights are covered in sections on structural biology, atomic and molecular physics, photochemistry, non-linear spectroscopy, shock physics, solid density plasmas. A short industrial perspective is also included to emphasise potential in this area.