Time delay measurement in the frequency domain.
Pump-probe studies at synchrotrons using X-ray and laser pulses require accurate determination of the time delay between pulses. This becomes especially important when observing ultrafast responses with lifetimes approaching or even less than the X-ray pulse duration (∼100 ps). The standard approach of inspecting the time response of a detector sensitive to both types of pulses can have limitations due to dissimilar pulse profiles and other experimental factors. Here, a simple alternative is presented, where the frequency response of the detector is monitored versus time delay. Measurements readily demonstrate a time resolution of ∼1 ps. Improved precision is possible by simply extending the data acquisition time.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Stephen M
SM
Durbin
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Shih Chieh
SC
Liu
Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA.
Eric M
EM
Dufresne
Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA.
Yuelin
Y
Li
Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA.
Haidan
H
Wen
RF frequency analysis; X-ray synchrotron; pump–probe; ultrafast time resolution