Sub-femtosecond time-resolved measurements of electron bunches with a C-band radio-frequency deflector in x-ray free-electron lasers.

Time-resolved diagnostics are fundamental for x-ray free-electron lasers (FELs). Radio-frequency (RF) transverse deflector structures (TDSs) are typically employed to characterize the temporal properties of the electron beams driving FELs. In this article, we present time-resolved measurements with a resolution below one femtosecond using a C-band RF TDS at SwissFEL, the x-ray FEL facility at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.

An X-ray free-electron laser with a highly configurable undulator and integrated chicanes for tailored pulse properties.

X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) are state-of-the-art scientific tools capable to study matter on the scale of atomic processes. Since the initial operation of X-ray FELs more than a decade ago, several facilities with upgraded performance have been put in operation. Here we present the first lasing results of Athos, the soft X-ray FEL beamline of SwissFEL at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.

Simulation studies for characterizing ultrashort bunches using novel polarizable X-band transverse deflection structures.

Transverse deflection structures are useful devices for characterizing the longitudinal properties of bunches in electron accelerators. With efforts to produce ever-shorter bunches for applications such as external injection into novel accelerator structures, e.g.

The SwissFEL soft X-ray free-electron laser beamline: Athos.

The SwissFEL soft X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) beamline Athos will be ready for user operation in 2021. Its design includes a novel layout of alternating magnetic chicanes and short undulator segments. Together with the APPLE X architecture of undulators, the Athos branch can be operated in different modes producing FEL beams with unique characteristics ranging from attosecond pulse length to high-power modes.

Theoretical and experimental analysis of a linear accelerator endowed with single feed coupler with movable short-circuit.

The front-end injection systems of the FERMI@Elettra linac produce high brightness electron beams that define the performance of the Free Electron Laser. The photoinjector mainly consists of the radiofrequency (rf) gun and of two S-band rf structures which accelerate the beam. Accelerating structures endowed with a single feed coupler cause deflection and degradation of the electron beam properties, due to the asymmetry of the electromagnetic field.

Absolute bunch length measurement using coherent diffraction radiation.

The longitudinal electron beam properties are of crucial importance for many types of frontier accelerators, from storage rings to free electron lasers and energy recovery linacs. For the online control of the machine and its stable operation, nondestructive shot by shot bunch length measurements are needed. Among the various instrumentations proposed and installed in accelerators worldwide, the ones based on the measurement of the coherent radiation power represent the simplest and the more robust tools for operational control.