Interaction of atomic systems with X-ray free-electron lasers.
The planned construction of an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) will provide new opportunities for research in various areas of physics, chemistry and biology. The proposed design of the XFELs at DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron) and SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center) is built on the concept of a fourth-generation synchrotron source and will provide an intense pulse (I(0) approximately 10(16) W cm(-2), tau(gamma) approximately 100 fs) for photon wavelengths down to 1 A. Some guidelines for applications of these sources pertaining to atomic physics are presented here. Issues such as the onset of strong photon-field effects, multiple ionization and hollow-atom formation are analyzed. Attention is especially given to studying the interaction with rare-gas atoms, for which some numerical estimates are provided.
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik Komplexer Systeme, Nöthnitzer Strasse 38, D-01187 Dresden, Germany.
M A
MA
Kornberg
A L
AL
Godunov
S
S
Itza-Ortiz
D L
DL
Ederer
J H
JH
McGuire
L
L
Young