Using 15 fs, LINAC-generated electron bunches for naturally synchronized infrared pump x-ray probe experiments with coherent synchrotron radiation

It is proposed to use highly compressed 15 fs bunches from a linear accelerator, such as the Stanford Linear Accelerator, for the production of both ultrashort x rays and mid-infrared coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR). The two types of radiation are synchronized with each other on the femtosecond time scale and can be used for pump-probe experiments in the study of ultrafast phenomena. A possible extension to 3 fs bunches is discussed, where the CSR serves both, as a source of pump radiation and as an indicator for those bunches that are perfectly compressed. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.