title: Subnanometer-scale measurements of the interaction of ultrafast soft x-ray free-electron-laser pulses with matter.
abstract: At the recently built FLASH x-ray free-electron laser, we studied the reflectivity of Si/C multilayers with fluxes up to 3 x 10(14) W/cm2. Even though the nanostructures were ultimately completely destroyed, we found that they maintained their integrity and reflectance characteristics during the 25-fs-long pulse, with no evidence for any structural changes over lengths greater than 3 A. This experiment demonstrates that with intense ultrafast pulses, structural damage does not occur during the pulse, giving credence to the concept of diffraction imaging of single macromolecules.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
authors.forename: Stefan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hau-Riege
authors.forename: Henry N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krzywinski
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sobierajski
authors.forename: Sasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bajt
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergh
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caleman
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nietubyc
authors.forename: Libor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Juha
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuba
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spiller
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bionta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sokolowski Tinten
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stojanovic
authors.forename: Benjawan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kjornrattanawanich
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gullikson
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Plönjes
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toleikis
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tschentscher