Sample interview questions: What are some common techniques for achieving high-power laser output in the x-ray range?
Sample answer:
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X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs):
XFELs generate high-power x-ray laser pulses by accelerating electrons to relativistic energies and passing them through a series of alternating magnetic fields, causing them to emit coherent x-ray radiation. This technique can produce intense x-ray pulses with gigawatt power and femtosecond durations. -
High Harmonic Generation (HHG):
HHG is a nonlinear optical process that converts intense laser pulses into high-order harmonics of the original frequency. By using ultrashort and high-power laser pulses, HHG can be used to generate x-ray radiation in the water window region (2.3-4.4 nm), which is of particular interest for biological imaging and microscopy. -
Pump-Probe Laser Techniques:
In pump-probe laser techniques, a high-power laser pulse (the pump pulse) is used to excite a sample, and a second, delayed laser pulse (the probe pulse) is used to probe the excited state. By varying the delay between the pump and probe pulses, researchers can stu… Read full answer