CCLRC/RAL, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon
The delivery of ever shorter pulses from accelerator-based light sources is now enabling femtosecond science in spectral ranges and at average powers beyond the reach of conventional lasers. The need for correspondingly precise management of pulse timing is driven both by the machines’ users, who wish to exploit the full capability of multi-beam experiments, and by the machine scientists and engineers, who rely on it for stable operation of their increasingly complex installations. Timing systems interact with almost every component of a light source. Challenges include system design for ease of time-structuring and maximum passive stability, long distance transport of beams and signals through difficult environments, development of timing sensors and actuators with high sensitivity and resolution and the use of advanced electronics to suppress timing noise. This talk will give an overview of the current and future timing issues and of the techniques available for addressing them.
