Synchronization System for Next Generation Light Sources

Free Electron Laser (FEL)-based light sources promise to deliver revolutionary breakthroughs in understanding of the behavior of physical, chemical, and biological systems. Precise synchronization of ultrafast FEL-based x-ray sources with external short pulse laser systems will enable monitoring, mapping, and control of atomic and molecular motion on its natural timescale. Usually this is done via simple distribution of timing signals over coaxial cables. The femtosecond-level accuracy and performance required from the next generation of light sources makes it impractical to use a conventional approach for timing and synchronization. Recent advances in timing and synchronization indicate it is possible to deliver high precision timing signals over an optical fiber network with sub-femtosecond precision. The proposed effort uses fiber interferometry to enable synchronization of remote light sources (slave lasers) to a master clock (FEL). Commercial applications and Other Benefits: Timing, communication and control systems of this type have applications that include accelerator-based x-ray sources, long- baseline coherent radio telescope arrays, the accurate mapping of the Earths geoid, and measurement of fundamental physical principles