Approaching the Attosecond Frontier of Dynamics in Matter with the Concept of X-ray Chronoscopy

Abstract

X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) have provided scientists opportunities to study matter with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolutions. However, access to the attosecond domain (i.e., below 1 femtosecond) remains elusive. Herein, a time-dependent experimental concept is theorized, allowing us to track ultrafast processes in matter with sub-fs resolution. The proposed X-ray chronoscopy approach exploits the state-of-the-art developments in terahertz streaking to measure the time structure of X-ray pulses with ultrahigh temporal resolution. The sub-femtosecond dynamics of the saturable X-ray absorption process is simulated. The employed rate equation model confirms that the X-ray-induced mechanisms leading to X-ray transparency can be probed via measurement of an X-ray pulse time structure.