Platform Capabilities for High-power Nanosecond Laser Experiments at the SACLA XFEL Facility

Abstract

Dynamic compression led by high-power laser irradiation onto a sample is one of the approaches to creating high-pressure states of matter. Because of the nature of dynamic compression, an appropriate probing scheme, i.e., a single-shot-based fast probe with a high enough signal-to-noise ratio, has been desired to diagnose the states. An X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) is a suitable probe from this point of view. At the SACLA XFEL facility, an experimental platform has been developed for high-power nanosecond laser experiments and is available for users. In this article, the platform capabilities are reviewed, followed by an overview of recent achievements at the platform.