Showing papers on "Laser published in 2008"
TL;DR: In this article, the physical mechanisms and the main experimental parameters involved in femtosecond laser micromachining of transparent materials, and important emerging applications of the technology are described.
Abstract: Femtosecond laser micromachining can be used either to remove materials or to change a material's properties, and can be applied to both absorptive and transparent substances. Over the past decade, this technique has been used in a broad range of applications, from waveguide fabrication to cell ablation. This review describes the physical mechanisms and the main experimental parameters involved in the femtosecond laser micromachining of transparent materials, and important emerging applications of the technology. Interactions between laser and matter are fascinating and have found a wide range of applications. This article gives an overview of the fundamental physical mechanisms in the processing of transparent materials using ultrafast lasers, as well as important emerging applications of the technology.
2,533 citations
TL;DR: Lasing in disordered media presents both theoretical challenges and practical opportunities as mentioned in this paper, and both theoretical and practical challenges and opportunities are discussed in detail in Section 5.1.1].
Abstract: Lasing in disordered media presents both theoretical challenges and practical opportunities.
1,330 citations
TL;DR: This work shows that the "giant" NQDs (g-NQDs) are functionally distinct from standard core-only, core/shell and even core/multishell NQds, and are substantially less sensitive to changes in surface chemistry.
Abstract: Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) comprise an important class of inorganic fluorophores for applications from optoelectronics to biology. Unfortunately, to date, NQD optical properties (e.g., their efficient and particle-size-tunable photoluminescence) have been susceptible to instabilities at the bulk and single-particle levels. Specifically, ensemble quantum yields (QYs) in emission are dependent upon NQD surface chemistry and chemical environment, while at the single-particle level, NQDs are characterized by significant fluorescence intermittency (blinking) that hinders applications as single-photon light sources for quantum informatics and biolabels for real-time monitoring of single biomolecules. Furthermore, while NQDs are significantly more photostable than their organic dye counterparts, traditional NQDs photobleach over periods of seconds to many minutes. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that by encapsulating the NQD core in a sufficiently thick inorganic shell, we are able to divorce NQD function from NQD surface chemistry and chemical environment. We show that our "giant" NQDs (g-NQDs) are functionally distinct from standard core-only, core/shell and even core/multishell NQDs. g-NQDs are substantially less sensitive to changes in surface chemistry. They do not photobleach under continuous laser excitation over periods of several hours repeated over several days, and they exhibit markedly different blinking behavior; >20% of the g-NQDs do not blink, while >40% have on-time fractions of >80%. All of these observations are in stark contrast with control samples comprising core-only and standard, thinner core/multishell NQDs.
887 citations
TL;DR: Far-field fluorescence nanoscopy with ordinary fluorophores is introduced based on switching the majority of them to a metastable dark state, such as the triplet, and calculating the position of those left or those that spontaneously returned to the ground state.
Abstract: We introduce far-field fluorescence nanoscopy with ordinary fluorophores based on switching the majority of them to a metastable dark state, such as the triplet, and calculating the position of those left or those that spontaneously returned to the ground state. Continuous widefield illumination by a single laser and a continuously operating camera yielded dual-color images of rhodamine- and fluorescent protein-labeled (living) samples, proving a simple yet powerful super-resolution approach.
762 citations
TL;DR: The experimental and theoretical studies of LBM show that process performance can be improved considerably by proper selection of laser parameters, material parameters and operating parameters, and the trend for future research is outlined.
Abstract: Laser beam machining (LBM) is one of the most widely used thermal energy based non-contact type advance machining process which can be applied for almost whole range of materials. Laser beam is focussed for melting and vaporizing the unwanted material from the parent material. It is suitable for geometrically complex profile cutting and making miniature holes in sheetmetal. Among various type of lasers used for machining in industries, CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers are most established. In recent years, researchers have explored a number of ways to improve the LBM process performance by analysing the different factors that affect the quality characteristics. The experimental and theoretical studies show that process performance can be improved considerably by proper selection of laser parameters, material parameters and operating parameters. This paper reviews the research work carried out so far in the area of LBM of different materials and shapes. It reports about the experimental and theoretical studies of LBM to improve the process performance. Several modelling and optimization techniques for the determination of optimum laser beam cutting condition have been critically examined. The last part of this paper discusses the LBM developments and outlines the trend for future research.
754 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review the history of the development of ceramic lasers, the principle of laser generation based on this material, some typical results achieved with ceramic lasers so far, and discuss the potential future outlook for the field.
Abstract: The word 'ceramics' is derived from the Greek keramos, meaning pottery and porcelain. The opaque and translucent cement and clay often used in tableware are not appropriate for optical applications because of the high content of optical scattering sources, that is, defects. Recently, scientists have shown that by eliminating the defects, a new, refined ceramic material — polycrystalline ceramic — can be produced. This advanced ceramic material offers practical laser generation and is anticipated to be a highly attractive alternative to conventional glass and single-crystal laser technologies in the future. Here we review the history of the development of ceramic lasers, the principle of laser generation based on this material, some typical results achieved with ceramic lasers so far, and discuss the potential future outlook for the field.
715 citations
TL;DR: The label-free, real-time optical detection of Influenza A virus particles is reported and a reactive sensing mechanism with inverse dependence on mode volume is confirmed in experiments with virus-sized polystyrene nanoparticles.
Abstract: We report the label-free, real-time optical detection of Influenza A virus particles. Binding of single virions is observed from discrete changes in the resonance frequency/wavelength of a whispering-gallery mode excited in a microspherical cavity. We find that the magnitude of the discrete wavelength-shift signal can be sufficiently enhanced by reducing the microsphere size. A reactive sensing mechanism with inverse dependence on mode volume is confirmed in experiments with virus-sized polystyrene nanoparticles. By comparing the electromagnetic theory for this reactive effect with experiments, the size and mass (≈5.2 × 10−16 g) of a bound virion are determined directly from the optimal resonance shift.
697 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the fundamental and second-harmonic fields of an ultrafast laser in any one of a number of materials can be used to generate radiation at terahertz frequencies.
Abstract: Frequency mixing the fundamental-and second-harmonic fields of an ultrafast laser in any one of a number of materials can generate radiation at terahertz frequencies. A better understanding of this process leads to a brighter source of light at these very useful wavelengths.
669 citations
TL;DR: To the knowledge, this is the first multi-100TW-scale laser at 0.1 Hz repetition rate and booster amplifying stage to the 50-TW-Ti:sapphire laser (HERCULES).
Abstract: We demonstrate the highest intensity - 300 TW laser by developing booster amplifying stage to the 50-TW-Ti:sapphire laser (HERCULES). To our knowledge this is the first multi-100TW-scale laser at 0.1 Hz repetition rate.
667 citations
TL;DR: The technique relies on establishing an absolute reference point in the laboratory frame by elliptical polarization of the laser pulse, from which field-induced momentum shifts of the emergent electron can be assigned to a temporal delay on the basis of the known oscillation of the field vector.
Abstract: It is well established that electrons can escape from atoms through tunneling under the influence of strong laser fields, but the timing of the process has been controversial and far too rapid to probe in detail. We used attosecond angular streaking to place an upper limit of 34 attoseconds and an intensity-averaged upper limit of 12 attoseconds on the tunneling delay time in strong field ionization of a helium atom. The ionization field derives from 5.5-femtosecond-long near-infrared laser pulses with peak intensities ranging from 2.3 × 1014 to 3.5 × 1014 watts per square centimeter (corresponding to a Keldysh parameter variation from 1.45 to 1.17, associated with the onset of efficient tunneling). The technique relies on establishing an absolute reference point in the laboratory frame by elliptical polarization of the laser pulse, from which field-induced momentum shifts of the emergent electron can be assigned to a temporal delay on the basis of the known oscillation of the field vector.
644 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that the momentum distribution of the extracted electron carries the fingerprint of the highest occupied molecular orbital, whereas the elastically scattered electrons reveal the position of the nuclear components of the molecule.
Abstract: Molecular structure is usually determined by measuring the diffraction pattern the molecule impresses on x-rays or electrons. We used a laser field to extract electrons from the molecule itself, accelerate them, and in some cases force them to recollide with and diffract from the parent ion, all within a fraction of a laser period. Here, we show that the momentum distribution of the extracted electron carries the fingerprint of the highest occupied molecular orbital, whereas the elastically scattered electrons reveal the position of the nuclear components of the molecule. Thus, in one comprehensive technology, the photoelectrons give detailed information about the electronic orbital and the position of the nuclei.
TL;DR: In principle, different diameters and chiralities of nanotubes could be combined to enable compact, mode-locked fibre lasers that are tuneable over a much broader range of wavelengths than other systems.
Abstract: Ultrashort-pulse lasers with spectral tuning capability have widespread applications in fields such as spectroscopy, biomedical research and telecommunications1–3. Mode-locked fibre lasers are convenient and powerful sources of ultrashort pulses4, and the inclusion of a broadband saturable absorber as a passive optical switch inside the laser cavity may offer tuneability over a range of wavelengths5. Semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors are widely used in fibre lasers4–6, but their operating range is typically limited to a few tens of nanometres7,8, and their fabrication can be challenging in the 1.3–1.5 mm wavelength region used for optical communications9,10. Single-walled carbon nanotubes are excellent saturable absorbers because of their subpicosecond recovery time, low saturation intensity, polarization insensitivity, and mechanical and environmental robustness11–16. Here, we engineer a nanotube–polycarbonate film with a wide bandwidth (>300 nm) around 1.55 mm, and then use it to demonstrate a 2.4 ps Er31-doped fibre laser that is tuneable from 1,518 to 1,558 nm. In principle, different diameters and chiralities of nanotubes could be combined to enable compact, mode-locked fibre lasers that are tuneable over a much broader range of wavelengths than other systems.
TL;DR: In this article, a new regime for radiation pressure acceleration of a thin foil by an intense laser beam of above 1020 W cm−2 was described, which allowed the construction of ultra-compact proton and ion accelerators with ultra-short particle bursts.
Abstract: A new regime is described for radiation pressure acceleration of a thin foil by an intense laser beam of above 1020 W cm−2. Highly monoenergetic proton beams extending to giga-electron-volt energies can be produced with very high efficiency using circularly polarized light. The proton beams have a very small divergence angle (<4°). This new method allows the construction of ultra-compact proton and ion accelerators with ultra-short particle bursts.
TL;DR: In this article, the main assumptions of the methods, namely the optical thin emission of spectral lines and the existence of local thermodynamic equilibrium in the plasma are evaluated, and a review is focused on the progress achieved in the determination of the physical parameters characteristic of the plasma, such as electron density, temperature and densities of atoms and ions.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review several new modes of pulse formation and propagation in fiber-based devices and propose a theoretical framework to unify our view of normal-dispersion femtosecond lasers.
Abstract: The generation and stable propagation of ultrashort optical pulses tend to be limited by accumulation of excessive nonlinear phase shifts. The limitations are particularly challenging in fiber-based devices, and as a result, short-pulse fiber lasers have lagged behind bulk solid-state lasers in performance. This article will review several new modes of pulse formation and propagation in fiber lasers. These modes exist with large normal cavity dispersion, and so are qualitatively distinct from the soliton-like processes that have been exploited effectively in modern femtosecond lasers but which are also quite limiting. Self-similar evolution can stabilize high-energy pulses in fiber lasers, and this leads to order-of-magnitude increases in performance: fiber lasers that generate 10 nJ pulses of 100 fs duration are now possible. Pulse-shaping based on spectral filtering of a phase-modulated pulse yields similar performance, from lasers that have no intracavity dispersion control. These new modes feature highly-chirped pulses in the laser cavity, and a theoretical framework offers the possibility of unifying our view of normal-dispersion femtosecond lasers. Instruments based on these new pulse-shaping mechanisms offer performance that is comparable to that of solid-state lasers but with the major practical advantages of fiber.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review progress that has been made towards realizing such possibilities and the principles that underlie them and review progress in the development of high-intensity laser systems.
Abstract: Rapid progress in the development of high-intensity laser systems has extended our ability to study light–matter interactions far into the relativistic domain, in which electrons are driven to velocities close to the speed of light. As well as being of fundamental interest in their own right, these interactions enable the generation of high-energy particle beams that are short, bright and have good spatial quality. Along with steady improvements in the size, cost and repetition rate of high-intensity lasers, the unique characteristics of laser-driven particle beams are expected to be useful for a wide range of contexts, including proton therapy for the treatment of cancers, materials characterization, radiation-driven chemistry, border security through the detection of explosives, narcotics and other dangerous substances, and of course high-energy particle physics. Here, we review progress that has been made towards realizing such possibilities and the principles that underlie them.
TL;DR: The fabrication of a filtered laser comb with up to 40-GHz (∼1-Å) line spacing, generated from a 1-GHz repetition-rate source, without compromising long-term stability, reproducibility or spectral resolution is reported.
Abstract: The current count of extrasolar planets (on planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov) stands at 277, none of them Earth-like. Most were detected as a Doppler shift in stellar spectral lines, a method that 'sees' planets down to about five times the mass of the Earth. If Earth-sized planets are to be revealed by this observational approach, better Doppler shift resolution via improved spectrograph wavelength calibration will be required. A newly developed instrument, the 'astro-comb', achieves just that by adapting the laser frequency comb, a device that has revolutionized laboratory spectroscopy, to the needs of astrophysics. This involves reducing the density of comb lines, without compromising spectral resolution. A performance test of the astro-comb is reported in this issue, and in May 2008, the new device joins the search for 'exoearths' in earnest. Searches for extrasolar planets using the periodic Doppler shift of stellar spectral lines have recently achieved a precision of 60 cm s−1, sufficient to find a 5-Earth-mass planet in a Mercury-like orbit around a Sun-like star. The fabrication of an 'astro-comb' that should allow a precision as high as 1 cm s−1 in astronomical radial velocity measurements is reported Searches for extrasolar planets using the periodic Doppler shift of stellar spectral lines have recently achieved a precision of 60 cm s-1 (ref. 1), which is sufficient to find a 5-Earth-mass planet in a Mercury-like orbit around a Sun-like star. To find a 1-Earth-mass planet in an Earth-like orbit, a precision of ∼5 cm s-1 is necessary. The combination of a laser frequency comb with a Fabry–Perot filtering cavity has been suggested as a promising approach to achieve such Doppler shift resolution via improved spectrograph wavelength calibration2,3,4, with recent encouraging results5. Here we report the fabrication of such a filtered laser comb with up to 40-GHz (∼1-A) line spacing, generated from a 1-GHz repetition-rate source, without compromising long-term stability, reproducibility or spectral resolution. This wide-line-spacing comb, or ‘astro-comb’, is well matched to the resolving power of high-resolution astrophysical spectrographs. The astro-comb should allow a precision as high as 1 cm s-1 in astronomical radial velocity measurements.
TL;DR: Broad bandwidth, mid-IR supercontinuum generation using a sub-cm (8 mm) length of highly nonlinear tellurite microstructured photonic crystal fiber, comparable or in excess of previously reported spectra for other nonlinear glass fiber formulations despite the significantly shorter fiber length is reported.
Abstract: We report broad bandwidth, mid-IR supercontinuum generation using a sub-cm (8 mm) length of highly nonlinear tellurite microstructured photonic crystal fiber (PCF). We pump the fiber at telecommunication wavelengths by using 1550 nm, 100 fs pulses of energy E=1.9 nJ. When coupled in the PCF, these pulses result in a supercontinuum (SC) bandwidth of 4080 nm extending from 789 to 4870 nm measured at 20 dBm below the peak spectral power. This bandwidth is comparable or in excess of previously reported spectra for other nonlinear glass fiber formulations despite the significantly shorter fiber length. In addition, besides offering a convenient pump wavelength, short fiber lengths enable smoother SC spectra, lower dispersion, and reduced material absorption at longer wavelengths making the use of this PCF particularly interesting.
TL;DR: In this paper, the cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation is applied to the normal-dispersion fiber laser to obtain dissipative temporal solitons.
Abstract: Mode-locked fiber lasers in which pulse shaping is based on filtering of a frequency-chirped pulse are analyzed with the cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation. An exact analytical solution produces a variety of temporal and spectral shapes, which have not been observed in any experimental setting to our knowledge. Experiments agree with the theory over a wide range of parameters. The observed pulses balance gain and loss as well as phase modulations, and thus constitute dissipative temporal solitons. The normal-dispersion fiber laser allows systematic exploration of this class of solitons.
TL;DR: Phase-locked terahertz transients with peak electric fields of 108 MV/cm and center frequencies continuously tunable from 10 to 72 THz are generated via difference-frequency mixing of two parametrically amplified pulse trains from a single white-light seed.
Abstract: Phase-locked terahertz transients with peak electric fields of 108 MV/cm and center frequencies continuously tunable from 10 to 72 THz are generated via difference-frequency mixing of two parametrically amplified pulse trains from a single white-light seed. Free space electro-optic sampling with 8 fs gating pulses from a two-branch Er:fiber laser allows us to monitor all transients directly in the time domain. We identify extreme terahertz nonlinearities in the detector crystal with subcycle resolution.
Book•
17 Jul 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the basic principles of laser processing are discussed, including the basics of Lasers, Materials Interactions, and Manufacturing Processes: An Overview of Laser Drilling, Cutting, and Three-Dimensional Laser Machining.
Abstract: Fundamentals of Laser Processing.- Basics of Lasers.- Laser Materials Interactions.- Laser Machining.- Manufacturing Processes: An Overview.- Laser Drilling.- Laser Cutting.- Three-Dimensional Laser Machining.- Laser Micromachining.- Laser Fabrication.- Laser Forming.- Laser-Based Rapid Prototyping Processes.- Laser Welding.- Special Topics in Laser Processing.- Laser Interference Processing.- Laser Shock Processing.- Laser Dressing of Grinding Wheels.- Lasers Processing in Medicine and Surgery.
TL;DR: A potential application of the comb for generating tunable narrow band frequency microwave signals is demonstrated and a rich variety of optical combs and high-frequency hyperparametric oscillation is observed, depending on the experimental conditions.
Abstract: We report on the experimental demonstration of a tunable monolithic optical frequency comb generator. The device is based on four-wave mixing in a crystalline calcium fluoride whispering gallery mode resonator. The frequency spacing of the comb is given by an integer number of the free spectral range of the resonator. We select the desired number by tuning the frequency of the pumping laser with respect to the corresponding resonator mode. We also observe a rich variety of optical combs and high-frequency hyperparametric oscillation, depending on the experimental conditions. A potential application of the comb for generating tunable narrow band frequency microwave signals is demonstrated.
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that, by combining a number of laser techniques, sub-10fs-precision synchronization of remote lasers and microwave sources is possible for more than 10 hours.
Abstract: Femtosecond-scale synchronization using mode-locked lasers has been limited to periods of just a few minutes. Now it is shown that, by combining a number of laser techniques, sub-10-fs-precision synchronization of remote lasers and microwave sources is possible for more than 10 hours.
TL;DR: Methods for the automatic detection of trees in terrestrial laser scanner data as well as the automatic determination of diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height and 3D stem profiles are outlined.
Abstract: Terrestrial laser scanners find rapidly growing interest in photogrammetry as efficient tools for fast and reliable three-dimensional (3D) point cloud data acquisition. They have opened a wide range of application fields within a short period of time. Beyond interactive measurement in 3D point clouds, techniques for the automatic detection of objects and the determination of geometric parameters form a high priority research issue. With the quality of 3D point clouds generated by laser scanners and the automation potential in data processing, terrestrial laser scanning is also becoming a useful tool for forest inventory. This paper presents a brief review of current laser scanner systems from a technological point of view and discusses different scanner technologies and system parameters regarding their suitability for forestry applications. Methods for the automatic detection of trees in terrestrial laser scanner data as well as the automatic determination of diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height and 3D stem profiles are outlined. Reliability and precision of the techniques are analysed on the basis of several pilot studies. In these pilot studies more than 97% of the trees could be detected correctly, and DBH could be determined with a precision of about 1.8 cm.
TL;DR: A novel optical switch to control the high-order harmonic generation process so that single attosecond pulses can be generated with multiple-cycle pulses and a unique dependence of the harmonic spectra on the carrier-envelope phase of the laser fields is discovered.
Abstract: We demonstrated a novel optical switch to control the high-order harmonic generation process so that single attosecond pulses can be generated with multiple-cycle pulses. The technique combines two powerful optical gating methods: polarization gating and two-color gating. An extreme ultraviolet supercontinuum supporting 130 as was generated with neon gas using 9 fs laser pulses. We discovered a unique dependence of the harmonic spectra on the carrier-envelope phase of the laser fields, which repeats every 2 pi radians.
TL;DR: Multiphoton microfabrication enables the production of three-dimensional microstructures with sub-100 nm resolution via direct laser writing using a femtosecond, pulsed laser beam.
Abstract: Multiphoton microfabrication enables the production of three-dimensional microstructures with sub-100 nm resolution via direct laser writing using a femtosecond, pulsed laser beam. The range of materials available for multiphoton processing has increased steadily over the past decade, and the extent of potential applications has increased correspondingly. Current application areas include photonics, microelectromechanical systems, and microelectronics. We review the fundamentals of multiphoton microfabrication and recent progress on materials and applications. Approaches for the mass production of three-dimensional structures created with multiphoton fabrication are also discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, a ring-cavity thulium fiber laser with a single-wall carbon nanotube absorber was used in transmission, achieving an average output power of 3.4 mW.
Abstract: We report a ring-cavity thulium fiber laser mode locked with a single-wall carbon nanotube absorber used in transmission. A carboxymethyl cellulose polymer film with incorporated carbon nanotubes synthesized by the arc discharge method has an absorption coinciding with in the amplification bandwidth of a Tm-doped fiber. This laser is pumped by an erbium fiber laser at 1.57 μm wavelength and produces a 37 MHz train of mode-locked 1.32 ps pulses at 1.93 μm wavelength with an average output power of 3.4 mW.
TL;DR: In this paper, the nonlinear phase shift accumulated by the pulse, spectral filter bandwidth, and group-velocity dispersion are identified as the key parameters that determine the behavior and properties of all-normal-dispersion mode-locked fiber lasers.
Abstract: We report a systematic study of all-normal-dispersion mode-locked fiber lasers. Spectral filtering of a chirped pulse in the cavity is a major component of the pulse shaping in these lasers. We identify the nonlinear phase shift accumulated by the pulse, spectral filter bandwidth, and group-velocity dispersion as the key parameters that determine the behavior and properties of these lasers. Trends in the performance as these parameters are varied are summarized. A wide range of pulse shapes and evolutions can occur. Experimental results from Yb-doped all-normal-dispersion fiber lasers agree reasonably well with the results of numerical simulations.
TL;DR: It is shown that the modal interactions through the gain medium in such lasers are extremely strong and lead to a uniformly spaced frequency spectrum, in agreement with recent experimental observations.
Abstract: Unlike conventional lasers, diffusive random lasers (DRLs) have no resonator to trap light and no high-Q resonances to support lasing. Because of this lack of sharp resonances, the DRL has presented a challenge to conventional laser theory. We present a theory able to treat the DRL rigorously and provide results on the lasing spectra, internal fields, and output intensities of DRLs. Typically DRLs are highly multimode lasers, emitting light at a number of wavelengths. We show that the modal interactions through the gain medium in such lasers are extremely strong and lead to a uniformly spaced frequency spectrum, in agreement with recent experimental observations.
TL;DR: In this paper, a 55m-long compact self-amplified spontaneous emission (SEM) source with a low acceleration energy of 250 MeV was used to generate X-ray free-electron laser radiation with a 2-GeV machine.
Abstract: Single-pass free-electron lasers based on self-amplified spontaneous emission1,2,3,4 are enabling the generation of laser light at ever shorter wavelengths, including extreme ultraviolet5, soft X-rays and even hard X-rays6,7,8. A typical X-ray free-electron laser is a few kilometres in length and requires an electron-beam energy higher than 10 GeV (refs 6, 8). If such light sources are to become accessible to more researchers, a significant reduction in scale is desirable Here, we report observations of brilliant extreme-ultraviolet radiation from a 55-m-long compact self-amplified spontaneous-emission source, which combines short-period undulators with a high-quality electron source operating at a low acceleration energy of 250 MeV. The radiation power reaches saturation at wavelengths ranging from 51 to 61 nm with a maximum pulse energy of 30 µJ. The ultralow emittance (0.6π mm mrad) of the electron beam from a CeB6 thermionic cathode9 is barely degraded by a multiple-stage bunch compression system that dramatically enhances the beam current from 1 to 300 A. This achievement expands the potential for generating X-ray free-electron laser radiation with a compact 2-GeV machine. Free-electron lasers can produce powerful pulses of radiation at very short wavelengths, even in the hard-X-ray region. In general, however, they comprise facilities several kilometres in length. A 55-m-long laser could open up the technology to a broader range of researchers.