FPGA-based measurements of the relative arrival time of a high-repetition rate, quasi-cw fourth generation light source.

In this paper, we demonstrate the successful implementation of reconfigurable field-programmable gate array technology into a pulse-resolved data acquisition system to achieve a femtosecond temporal resolution in ultrafast pump-probe experiments in real-time at large scale facilities. As proof of concept, electro-optic sampling of terahertz waveforms radiated by a superradiant emitter of a quasi-cw accelerator operating at a 50 kHz repetition rate and probed by an external laser system is performed. Options for up-scaling the developed technique to a MHz range of repetition rates are discussed.

Terahertz-slicing - an all-optical synchronization for 4 generation light sources.

A conceptually new approach to synchronizing accelerator-based light sources and external laser systems is presented. The concept is based on utilizing a sufficiently intense accelerator-based single-cycle terahertz pulse to slice a thereby intrinsically synchronized femtosecond-level part of a longer picosecond laser pulse in an electro-optic crystal. A precise synchronization of the order of 10 fs is demonstrated, allowing for real-time lock-in amplifier signal demodulation.

Real-Time Regulation of Beam-Based Feedback: Implementing an FPGA Solution for a Continuous Wave Linear Accelerator.

Control applications targeting fast industrial processes rely on real-time feasible implementations. One of such applications is the stabilization of an electron bunch arrival time in the context of a linear accelerator. In the past, only the electric field accelerating the electron bunches was actively controlled in order to implicitly stabilize the accelerated electron beam.

Off-harmonic optical probing of high intensity laser plasma expansion dynamics in solid density hydrogen jets.

Due to the non-linear nature of relativistic laser induced plasma processes, the development of laser-plasma accelerators requires precise numerical modeling. Especially high intensity laser-solid interactions are sensitive to the temporal laser rising edge and the predictive capability of simulations suffers from incomplete information on the plasma state at the onset of the relativistic interaction. Experimental diagnostics utilizing ultra-fast optical backlighters can help to ease this challenge by providing temporally resolved inside into the plasma density evolution.

Making spectral shape measurements in inverse Compton scattering a tool for advanced diagnostic applications.

Interaction of relativistic electron beams with high power lasers can both serve as a secondary light source and as a novel diagnostic tool for various beam parameters. For both applications, it is important to understand the dynamics of the inverse Compton scattering mechanism and the dependence of the scattered light's spectral properties on the interacting laser and electron beam parameters. Measurements are easily misinterpreted due to the complex interplay of the interaction parameters.

High-Field High-Repetition-Rate Sources for the Coherent THz Control of Matter.

Ultrashort flashes of THz light with low photon energies of a few meV, but strong electric or magnetic field transients have recently been employed to prepare various fascinating nonequilibrium states in matter. Here we present a new class of sources based on superradiant enhancement of radiation from relativistic electron bunches in a compact electron accelerator that we believe will revolutionize experiments in this field. Our prototype source generates high-field THz pulses at unprecedented quasi-continuous-wave repetition rates up to the MHz regime.

Development and Successful Validation of Simple and Fast TLC Spot Tests for Determination of Kryptofix® 2.2.2 and Tetrabutylammonium in 18F-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals.

Kryptofix® 2.2.2 (Kry) or tetrabutylammonium (TBA) are commonly used as phase transfer catalysts in 18F-radiopharmaceutical productions for positron emission tomography (PET).

High resolution energy-angle correlation measurement of hard x rays from laser-Thomson backscattering.

Thomson backscattering of intense laser pulses from relativistic electrons not only allows for the generation of bright x-ray pulses but also for the investigation of the complex particle dynamics at the interaction point. For this purpose a complete spectral characterization of a Thomson source powered by a compact linear electron accelerator is performed with unprecedented angular and energy resolution. A rigorous statistical analysis comparing experimental data to 3D simulations enables, e.

Protein resistance of PNIPAAm brushes: application to switchable protein adsorption.

Protein adsorption, as the primary process occurring when a foreign surface comes into contact with a biosystem, was studied on thin polymer brush films consisting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP). These films were prepared by the "grafting to" method. The protein resistance of stimuli responsive PNIPAAm-brushes toward serum albumin was recorded and compared with protein adsorption on P2VP brushes.