Abstract

Femtosecond electron and X-ray diffraction are currently among the most intriguing topics in ultrafast science, allowing for probing structural dynamics of molecular and solid state systems with previously unachievable temporal and spatial resolution. These techniques are still in an early stage, and large efforts are currently put into the development of sophisticated femtosecond electron or X-ray sources suitable for experiments with high temporal resolution. In electron diffraction, overcoming temporal smearing due to spatial propagation effects and to Coulomb repulsion of electron bunches produced at kHz repetition rates is particularly challenging. Ultimately, therefore, a point-like source of single electrons with temporal resolution in the regime of few femtoseconds or even below would be highly desirable.

© 2007 IEEE