Stanford University

Time resolved x ray pump-probe capabilities have been developed at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource at megahertz repetition rates and with time-resolution less than 20 picoseconds, half an order of magnitude shorter than typical synchrotron x-ray pulses. A portable 1030 nm, 500 fs fiber laser system running at 1.28 MHz and synchronized to the electron bunches is used in conjunction with a low alpha lattice providing picosecond x-ray pulses. A unique hybrid low alpha mode enables high time-resolution measurements at high average currents enabling normal user experiments to be carried out in parallel. We have demonstrated the ability to perform laser pump/x ray probe experiments in both the standard operation of the ring and the low alpha mode configuration probing bismuth, BiFeO₃, and Pb(Zr)TiO₃ thin films. Experiments have been run at a number of different beamlines with both hard and soft x-rays. This source represents a complimentary source to x-ray free electron lasers, enabling high rep-rate measurements at lower peak powers.