A simple cross-correlation technique between infrared and hard x-ray pulses

摘要

We report a gas phase technique to establish the temporal overlap of ultrafast infrared laser and hard x-ray pulses. We use tunnel ionization of a closed shell atom in the strong field at the focus of an infrared laser beam to open a distinct x-ray absorption resonance channel with a clear fluorescence signature. The technique has an intrinsic response of a few femtoseconds and is nondestructive to the two beams. It provides a step-functionlike cross-correlation result. The details of the transient provide a diagnostic of the temporal overlap of the two pulses.