Supercontinuum circularly polarized X-ray source for nanoscale imaging of magnetic materials

PROJECT COST:

287 000 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

114 000 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

Major scientific advances in X-ray imaging achieved over the past century have driven the pursuit of ultrashort X-ray pulses capable of capturing the dynamics of complex systems. The ultimate objective is to combine femtosecond temporal resolution with nanometer-scale spatial resolution.

Recent developments in free-electron laser technology have made it possible to generate X-ray pulses with durations of only a few tens of femtoseconds. However, these facilities require substantial capital investment (on the order of billions of dollars) and remain largely inaccessible, with no such infrastructure currently available in Canada.

We propose to develop an X-ray imaging approach based on high-order harmonic generation (HHG) produced through laser–matter interactions. A methodology for generating circularly polarized X-rays will be implemented to enable spatiotemporal imaging of magnetic materials.

This radiation source will provide novel characterization capabilities for magnetic alloys with nanometer-scale spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution. It will also be compatible with the high-power femtosecond infrared laser developed by our industrial partners. The architecture of this laser is based on the Fiber Optical Parametric Amplifier (FOPA) technology, whose intellectual property (IP) is protected by INRS.