title: Measurement of high-dynamic range x-ray Thomson scattering spectra for the characterization of nano-plasmas at LCLS.
abstract: Atomic clusters can serve as ideal model systems for exploring ultrafast (∼100 fs) laser-driven ionization dynamics of dense matter on the nanometer scale. Resonant absorption of optical laser pulses enables heating to temperatures on the order of 1 keV at near solid density conditions. To date, direct probing of transient states of such nano-plasmas was limited to coherent x-ray imaging. Here we present the first measurement of spectrally resolved incoherent x-ray scattering from clusters, enabling measurements of transient temperature, densities, and ionization. Single shot x-ray Thomson scattering signals were recorded at 120 Hz using a crystal spectrometer in combination with a single-photon counting and energy-dispersive pnCCD. A precise pump laser collimation scheme enabled recording near background-free scattering spectra from Ar clusters with an unprecedented dynamic range of more than 3 orders of magnitude. Such measurements are important for understanding collective effects in laser-matter interactions on femtosecond time scales, opening new routes for the development of schemes for their ultrafast control.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gorkhover
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bucher
authors.affiliation: California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California 91360, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carron
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Coffee
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Glenzer
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Göde
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hau-Riege
authors.affiliation: University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krzywinski
authors.affiliation: Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Needham, Massachusetts 02492, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Levitan
authors.affiliation: Universität Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meiwes-Broer
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osipov
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pardini
authors.affiliation: Universität Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peltz
authors.affiliation: Universität Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skruszewicz
authors.affiliation: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swiggers
authors.affiliation: Argonne National Lab, Lemont, Illinois 60439, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bostedt
authors.affiliation: Universität Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fennel
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Döppner