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Multicolor x-ray free-electron laser generation using optical klystron for multiframe diffraction imaging

Xiaodan Liu1,2, Hanxiang Yang2, Bingyang Yan3,4, Yue Wang5, Nanshun Huang2, Liqi Han6, Jie Cai6, Han Wen1, Jinqing Yu1,* et al.

Haixiao Deng2,† and Xueqing Yan6,‡

  • *Contact author: jinqing.yu@hnu.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: denghx@sari.ac.cn
  • ‡Contact author: x.yan@pku.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 050704 – Published 26 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/ygrv-6x6n

Abstract

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) of high brightness have opened new opportunities for exploring ultrafast dynamical processes in matter, enabling imaging and movies of single molecules and particles at atomic resolution. In this paper, we present a straightforward method for multiframe diffraction imaging, using the whole electron beam to generate four-color XFEL pulses with adjustable wavelength separation and time delay. The optical klystron scheme is introduced to enhance the FEL intensity and reduce the total length of the undulators. The time delay is tuned via a magnetic chicane between the undulators for different colors. Using parameters of SHINE, start-to-end simulations demonstrate the effectiveness and tunability of our method, achieving representative results such as time delays of hundreds of femtoseconds and four-color XFEL pulses spanning 1.8 to 2.7 nm with 0.3 nm intervals. The proposed scheme enables the recording of multiframe diffraction images in a single exposure, providing a new perspective for ultrafast molecular and atomic dynamics studies.

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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 050704– Published 26 May, 2026
  • Received 29 October 2025
  • Accepted 6 April 2026
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