arXiv subjects

Yuri Shvyd'ko

Publications and source records attributed to Yuri Shvyd'ko.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Broadly Tunable Compact Non-Coplanar X-Ray Cavity for Cavity-Based Free-Electron Lasers

Cavity-based x-ray free-electron lasers (CBXFELs) require tunable x-ray cavities to broaden their practical utility and enable access to a wider range of scientific applications. We propose and analyze a compact tunable non-coplanar x-ray cavity based on six Bragg-reflecting crystals arranged as two three-crystal backscattering units. The three-dimensional geometry provides a substantially larger tuning range than planar bowtie cavities while maintaining a compact transverse footprint. We derive analytical expressions for the cavity geometry, crystal kinematics, and polarization-dependent Bragg reflectivity both in the intrinsic and eigenpolarization bases. For a given Bragg reflection, the ultimate photon-energy tuning range is 100\%, from $E=E_{_{H}}$ at backscattering to $E=2E_{_{H}}$ at Bragg angle $θ=π/6$. Practical geometrical and polarization constraints reduce the directly usable range to approximately 45\%, while operation in the cavity eigenpolarization basis can extend it to approximately 65\%. By combining fundamental and harmonic diamond reflections, and using reflections from different crystallographic families, the accessible photon-energy range can be extended from about 3~keV to approximately 20~keV. These results establish non-coplanar multi-crystal cavities as a viable route toward compact, broadly tunable x-ray resonators for future CBXFELs.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

On Demand magnetic-Doppler nuclear frequency comb memory for hard X-ray photons

Nuclear quantum memories in the hard X-ray regime offer some key advantages over their optical counterparts, such as broader bandwidth and lower background noise. A Doppler frequency comb protocol has been theoretically proposed [X. Zhang \textit{et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{123}, 250504 (2019)] and recently demonstrated experimentally [S. Velten \textit{et al.}, Sci. Adv. \textbf{10}, eadn9825 (2024)] for the storage and retrieval of X-ray photons. However, achieving on-demand retrieval remains challenging because of the requirement for precise and synchronous mechanical motion of multiple absorbers. We propose a hybrid, magnetic-Doppler nuclear frequency comb composed of Doppler-shifted resonant absorbers with lifted nuclear spin degeneracy, which expands the Doppler comb structure. By synchronously reversing the directions of both the magnetic fields and absorber velocities, the system achieves time-reversed phase evolution dynamics that allows for efficient on-demand photon retrieval with significantly reduced mechanical complexity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Probing the Linewidth of the 12.4-keV Solid-State $^{45}$Sc Isomeric Resonance

The $^{45}$Sc nuclear transition from the ground to the isomeric state at 12.389~keV, with a lifetime of 0.46~s, exhibits an extraordinarily narrow natural width of 1.4~feV and a quality factor $\simeq 10^{19}$ -- surpassing those of the most precise atomic clocks -- making $^{45}$Sc a compelling platform for advanced metrology and nuclear clocks. Here we investigate how closely the spectral width and quality factor of the solid-state $^{45}$Sc resonance can approach these natural limits. Using the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser, we confirm the isomer's lifetime via time-delayed incoherent $K_{α,β}$ fluorescence and observe previously unreported elastic fluorescence, yielding a partial internal conversion coefficient of 390(60). The absence of a clear nuclear forward scattering signal beyond a 2-ms delay implies environmental broadening of at least $500~Γ_{0}$ under experimental conditions, placing bounds on solid-state decoherence mechanisms. These findings set new experimental benchmarks for solid-state nuclear clock development.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

On-Demand Zeeman Nuclear Frequency Comb Quantum Memory

The emerging hard X-ray - nuclear interfaces offer unique potential advantages over traditional optical-atomic interfaces for room-temperature, solid-state quantum information processing, including lower background noise, tighter focusing, and exceptionally high resonance quality. Leveraging such interfaces, a major milestone was recently achieved with the first implementation of nuclear quantum memory in the hard X-ray range [S. Velten et al., Nuclear quantum memory for hard X-ray photon wave packets, Sci. Adv. 10, eadn9825 (2024)] using the Doppler frequency comb protocol. However, this approach relies on the synchronous mechanical motion of multiple nuclear absorbers, posing experimental challenges for on-demand photon retrieval. We propose an on-demand hard X-ray quantum memory based on reversing the direction of an external magnetic field in a single stationary solid-state nuclear absorber with sets of Zeeman sublevels. This scheme is exemplified by the quantum storage of an 1.41-$μ$s single photon wave packet at 6.2 keV for over 10 $μ$s in a $^{181}$Ta metallic foil, providing a feasible pathway for the first experimental demonstration of on-demand hard X-ray photon storage.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

High-Luminosity meV-Resolution Single-Shot Hard X-ray Spectrograph for Cavity-Based X-ray Free-Electron Lasers

Cavity-based x-ray free-electron lasers (CBXFELs) represent a possible realization of fully coherent hard x-ray sources having high spectral brilliance along with a narrow spectral bandwidth of $\simeq 1 - 50$~meV, a high repetition pulse rate of $\simeq 1$~MHz, and good stability. A diagnostic tool is required to measure CBXFEL spectra with meV resolution and high luminosity on a shot-to-shot basis. We have designed a high-luminosity single-shot hard x-ray spectrograph that images 9.831-keV x-rays in a $\simeq 200$~meV spectral window with a spectral resolution of a few meV. The spectrograph is designed around angular dispersion of x-rays in Bragg diffraction from crystals. It operates close to design specifications, exhibiting a linear dispersion rate of $\simeq$~1.4~$μ$m/meV and a $\simeq$~200-meV window of high-fidelity spectral imaging. The experimentally demonstrated spectral resolution is $\simeq 20$~meV; this resolution is twice as low as expected from theory primarily because the spectrograph is highly sensitive to crystal angular instabilities. The experiment was performed at the bending magnet x-ray optics testing beamline 1-BM at the Advanced Photon Source.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Thermoelastic response of Bragg crystals under MHz thermal loading

An x-ray free-electron laser oscillator (XFELO) is a promising candidate for producing fully coherent x-rays beyond the fourth-generation light sources. An R&D XFELO experiment (ANL-SLAC-Spring-8 collaboration) to demonstrate the basic principles and measure the two-pass FEL gain is expected to be accomplished by 2025. Beyond this R&D experiment, an XFELO user facility will be eventually needed to produce stable x-ray pulses with saturated pulse energy at MHz repetition rate. One of the outstanding issues for realizing an MHz XFELO is the possible Bragg crystal degradation due to the high-repetition-rate thermal loading from high-pulse-energy x-rays. The deposited energy by one x-ray pulse induces temperature gradients and elastic waves in the crystal, where the deformed crystal lattice impacts the Bragg performance for subsequent x-ray pulses. Here, we present studies of the crystal thermoelastic response under thermal loading of high-energy x-ray pulse trains.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2022

Signatures of misalignment in x-ray cavities of cavity-based x-ray free-electron lasers

Cavity-based x-ray free-electron lasers (CBXFEL) will allow use of optical cavity feedback to support generation of fully coherent x-rays of high brilliance and stability by electrons in undulators. CBXFEL optical cavities comprise Bragg-reflecting flat crystal mirrors, which ensure x-rays circulation on a closed orbit, and x-ray refractive lenses, which stabilize the orbit and refocus the x-rays back on the electrons in the undulator. Depending on the cavity design, there are tens of degrees of freedom of the optical elements, which can never be perfectly aligned. Here, we study signatures of misalignment of the optical components and of the undulator source with the purposes of understanding the effects of misalignment on x-ray beam dynamics, understanding misalignment tolerances, and developing cavity alignment procedures. Betatron oscillations of the x-ray beam trajectory (both symmetric and asymmetric) are one of the characteristic signatures of cavity misalignment. The oscillation period is in the general case a non-integer number of round-trip passes of x-rays in the cavity. This period (unlike the amplitude and offset of the oscillations) is independent of the type of misalignment and is defined by cavity parameters. The studies are performed on an example of a four-crystal rectangular cavity using analytical and numerical wave optics as well as ray-tracing techniques. Both confocal and generic stable cavity types are studied.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Diamond Channel-Cut Crystals for High-Heat-Load, Beam-Multiplexing, Narrow-Band X-ray Monochromators

Next-generation, high-brilliance x-ray photon sources call for new x-ray optics. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using monolithic diamond channel-cut crystals as high-heat-load, beam-multiplexing, narrow-band, mechanically-stable x-ray monochromators with high-power x-ray beams at cutting-edge, high-repetition-rate x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) facilities. The diamond channel-cut crystals fabricated and characterized in these studies are designed as two-bounce Bragg reflection monochromators directing 14.4-keV or 12.4-keV x-rays within a 15-meV-bandwidth to $^{57}$Fe or $^{45}$Sc nuclear resonant scattering experiments, respectively. The crystal design allows out-of-band x-rays within a $\simeq 1$-eV XFEL bandwidth to be transmitted with minimal losses to alternative simultaneous experiments. Only $\lesssim 2$\% of the incident $\simeq 100$-W x-ray beam is absorbed in a 50-$μ$m-thick first diamond crystal reflector, ensuring that the monochromator crystal is highly stable. Other x-ray optics applications of diamond channel-cut crystals are anticipated.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Small Bragg-plane slope errors revealed in synthetic diamond crystals

Wavefront-preserving x-ray diamond crystal optics are essential for numerous applications in x-ray science. Perfect crystals with flat Bragg planes are a prerequisite for wavefront preservation in Bragg diffraction. However, this condition is difficult to realize in practice because of inevitable crystal imperfections. Here we use x-ray rocking curve imaging to study the smallest achievable Bragg-plane slope errors in the best presently available synthetic diamond crystals and how they compare with those of perfect silicon crystals. We show that the smallest specific slope errors in the best diamond crystals (both freestanding or strain-free mounted) are about 0.15-0.2~$μ$rad/mm$^2$. These errors are only a factor of two larger than the 0.05-0.1~$μ$rad/mm$^2$ specific slope errors we measure in perfect silicon crystals. High-temperature annealing at 1450$^{\circ}$C of almost flawless diamond crystals reduces the slope errors very close to those of silicon. Further investigations are required to establish the wavefront-preservation properties of these crystals.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Diffraction gratings with two-orders-of-magnitude-enhanced dispersion rates for sub-meV-resolution soft x-ray spectroscopy

Diffraction gratings with large angular dispersion rates are central to obtaining high spectral resolution in grating spectrometers operating over a broad spectral range from infrared to soft-x-ray domains. The greatest challenge is of course to achieve large dispersion rates in the short-wavelength x-ray domain. Here we show that crystals in non-coplanar asymmetric x-ray Bragg diffraction can function as high-reflectance soft-x-ray diffraction gratings with dispersion rates that are at least two orders of magnitude larger than those that are possible with state-of-the-art man-made gratings. This opens new opportunities to design and implement soft x-ray resonant inelastic scattering (RIXS) spectrometers with spectral resolutions that are up to two orders of magnitude higher than what is currently possible, to further advance a very dynamic field of RIXS spectroscopy, and to make it competitive with inelastic neutron scattering. We present examples of large-dispersion-rate crystal diffraction gratings operating near the 930-eV L$_3$ absorption edge in Cu and of the 2.838-keV L$_3$ edge in Ru.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Output coupling from x-ray free-electron laser cavities with intracavity beam splitters

Permeable mirrors are typically used for coupling photons out of laser cavities. A similar approach was proposed for output coupling photons from the cavities of x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) oscillators. One of the Bragg-reflecting crystal mirrors is thin, just a few extinction length, and is used as a permeable mirror. However, this method is very often limited to extractions of only a few tenths of the intracavity power. Other cavity-based XFELs, such as the high-gain regenerative amplifier XFEL, require much higher outcoupling efficiency. Here, alternative schemes are proposed and analyzed for coupling x-ray photons out of XFEL cavities using intracavity Bragg-reflecting, x-ray-transparent diamond crystal beam splitters. The intracavity beam splitters are efficient and flexible in terms of the amount of the power they are capable of coupling out of the cavity, an amount that can be varied promptly from zero to close to 100%. The schemes can be readily extended to multi-beam outcoupling.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2019

An X-Ray Regenerative Amplifier Free-Electron Laser Using Diamond Pinhole MIrrors

Free-electron lasers (FELs) have been built ranging in wavelength from long-wavelength oscillators using partial wave guiding through ultraviolet through hard x-ray FELs that are either seeded or start from noise (SASE). Operation in the x-ray spectrum has relied on single-pass SASE due either to the lack of seed lasers or difficulties in the design of x-ray mirrors. However, recent developments in the production of diamond crystal Bragg reflectors point the way to the design of regenerative amplifiers (RAFELs) which are, essentially, low-Q x-ray free-electron laser oscillators (XFELOs) that out-couple a large fraction of the optical power on each pass. A RAFEL using a six-mirror resonator providing out-coupling of 90% or more through a pinhole in the first downstream mirror is proposed and analyzed using the MINERVA simulation code for the undulator interaction and the Optics Propagation Code (OPC) for the resonator. MINERVA/OPC has been used in the past to simulate infrared FEL oscillators. For the present purpose, OPC has been modified to treat Bragg reflection from diamond crystal mirrors. The six-mirror resonator design has been analyzed within the context of the LCLS-II beamline under construction at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and using the HXR undulator which is also to be installed on the LCLS-II beamline. Simulations have been run to optimize and characterize the properties of the RAFEL, and indicate that substantial powers are possible at the fundamental (3.05 keV) and third harmonic (9.15 keV).

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2019

Scientific Opportunities with an X-ray Free-Electron Laser Oscillator

An X-ray free-electron laser oscillator (XFELO) is a new type of hard X-ray source that would produce fully coherent pulses with meV bandwidth and stable intensity. The XFELO complements existing sources based on self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) from high-gain X-ray free-electron lasers (XFEL) that produce ultra-short pulses with broad-band chaotic spectra. This report is based on discussions of scientific opportunities enabled by an XFELO during a workshop held at SLAC on June 29 - July 1, 2016

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Aberration-free imaging of inelastic scattering spectra with x-ray echo spectrometers

We study conditions for aberration-free imaging of inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) spectra with x-ray echo spectrometers. Aberration-free imaging is essential for achieving instrumental functions with high resolution and high contrast. Computational ray tracing is applied to a thorough analysis of a 0.1-meV/0.07-nm$^{-1}$-resolution echo-type IXS spectrometer operating with 9-keV x-rays. We show that IXS spectra imaged by the x-ray echo spectrometer that uses lenses for the collimating and focusing optics are free of aberrations. When grazing-incidence mirrors (paraboloidal, parabolic Kirkpatrick-Baez, or parabolic Montel) are used instead of the lenses, the imaging system reveals some defocus aberration that depends on the inelastic energy transfer. However, the aberration-free images can be still recorded in a plane that is tilted with respect to the optical axis. This distortion can be thus fully compensated by inclining appropriately the x-ray imaging detector, which simultaneously improves its spatial resolution. A full simulation of imaging IXS spectra from a realistic sample demonstrates the excellent performance of the proposed designs.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Theory and optical design of x-ray echo spectrometers

X-ray echo spectroscopy, a space-domain counterpart of neutron spin echo, is a recently proposed inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) technique. X-ray echo spectroscopy relies on imaging IXS spectra, and does not require x-ray monochromatization. Due to this, the echo-type IXS spectrometers are broadband, and thus have a potential to simultaneously provide dramatically increased signal strength, reduced measurement times, and higher resolution compared to the traditional narrow-band scanning-type IXS spectrometers. The theory of x-ray echo spectrometers presented in [1] is developed here further with a focus on questions of practical importance, which could facilitate optical design and assessment of the feasibility and performance of the echo spectrometers. Among others, the following questions are addressed: spectral resolution, refocusing condition, echo spectrometer tolerances, refocusing condition adjustment, effective beam size on the sample, spectral window of imaging and scanning range, impact of the secondary source size on the spectral resolution, angular dispersive optics, focusing and collimating optics, and detector's spatial resolution. Examples of optical designs and characteristics of echo spectrometers with 1-meV and 0.1-meV resolutions are presented.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

X-ray echo spectroscopy

X-ray echo spectroscopy, a counterpart of neutron spin-echo, is being introduced here to overcome limitations in spectral resolution and weak signals of the traditional inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) probes. An image of a point-like x-ray source is defocused by a dispersing system comprised of asymmetrically cut specially arranged Bragg diffracting crystals. The defocused image is refocused into a point (echo) in a time-reversal dispersing system. If the defocused beam is inelastically scattered from a sample, the echo signal acquires a spatial distribution, which is a map of the inelastic scattering spectrum. The spectral resolution of the echo spectroscopy does not rely on the monochromaticity of the x-rays, ensuring strong signals along with a very high spectral resolution. Particular schemes of x-ray echo spectrometers for 0.1--0.02-meV ultra-high-resolution IXS applications (resolving power $> 10^8$) with broadband $\simeq$~5--13~meV dispersing systems are introduced featuring more than $10^3$ signal enhancement. The technique is general, applicable in different photon frequency domains.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Novel opportunities for sub-meV inelastic X-ray scattering at high-repetition rate self-seeded X-ray free-electron lasers

Inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS) is an important tool for studies of equilibrium dynamics in condensed matter. A new spectrometer recently proposed for ultra-high-resolution IXS (UHRIX) has achieved 0.6~meV and 0.25~nm$^{-1}$ spectral and momentum transfer resolutions, respectively. However, further improvements down to 0.1~meV and 0.02~nm$^{-1}$ are required to close the gap in energy-momentum space between high and low frequency probes. We show that this goal can be achieved by further optimizing the X-ray optics and by increasing the spectral flux of the incident X-ray pulses. UHRIX performs best at energies from 5 to 10 keV, where a combination of self-seeding and undulator tapering at the SASE-2 beamline of the European XFEL promises up to a hundred-fold increase in average spectral flux compared with nominal SASE pulses at saturation, or three orders of magnitude more than possible with storage-ring based radiation sources. Wave-optics propagation shows that about $7\times 10^{12}$~ph/s in a $90$-$μ$eV bandwidth can be achieved on the sample. This will provide unique new possibilities for dynamics studies by IXS.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2015

Theory of angular dispersive imaging hard x-ray spectrographs

A spectrograph is an optical instrument that disperses photons of different energies into distinct directions and space locations, and images photon spectra on a position-sensitive detector. Spectrographs consist of collimating, angular dispersive, and focusing optical elements. Bragg reflecting crystals arranged in an asymmetric scattering geometry are used as the dispersing elements. A ray-transfer matrix technique is applied to propagate x-rays through the optical elements. Several optical designs of hard x-ray spectrographs are proposed and their performance is analyzed. Spectrographs with an energy resolution of 0.1 meV and a spectral window of imaging up to a few tens of meVs are shown to be feasible for inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) spectroscopy applications. In another example, a spectrograph with a 1-meV spectral resolution and 85-meV spectral window of imaging is considered for Cu K-edge resonant IXS (RIXS).

physics.optics↗