New sources of ultrashort pulse X-ray radiition and applications

Abstract. The world of x-ray sources 1s dlvlded between large “third generatIon ” synchrotron and the user-fnendlier “table-top ” sources using the ennsSlon from plasmas produced by lasers or electrical discharges. The use of x-ray sources has become more and more wIdespread m many dlsclphnes of basic research and engmeermg because x-rays are Invaluable tools for Imagery, defect analysis, and matenal cornposItIon and structure determination X-ray sources are now capable of producmg ultra short pulses with duration rangmg from tens of plcoseconds to less than one picosecond, giving access to the time scale of elementary processes such as molecular vlbrattons, and gammg mformatlon about the transmon state m reactive bIologica molecules. This paper describes these new x-ray sources and techmques and reviews the first expenments dedicated to the analysis of atonnc motions on this time-scale 1