Proceedings Article | 20 June 2017
C. Fortmann-Grote, A. Andreev, K. Appel, J. Branco, R. Briggs, M. Bussmann, A. Buzmakov, M. Garten, A. Grund, A. Huebl, Z. Jurek, N. Loh, M. Nakatsutsumi, L. Samoylova, R. Santra, E. Schneidmiller, A. Sharma, K. Steiniger, S. Yakubov, C. Yoon, M. Yurkov, U. Zastrau, B. Ziaja-Motyka, A. Mancuso
KEYWORDS: Ultrafast phenomena, Laser-matter interactions, Light sources, Synchrotrons, Free electron lasers, Optical simulations, Laser scattering, Plasmas, Laser optics, Scattering, Pulsed laser operation, Laser applications, Ultrafast imaging, X-ray lasers
Simulations of experiments at modern light sources, such as optical laser laboratories, synchrotrons, and
free electron lasers, become increasingly important for the successful preparation, execution, and analysis of these
experiments investigating ever more complex physical systems, e.g. biomolecules, complex materials, and ultra–short
lived states of matter at extreme conditions. We have implemented a platform for complete start–to–end simulations
of various types of photon science experiments, tracking the radiation from the source through the beam transport
optics to the sample or target under investigation, its interaction with and scattering from the sample, and registration
in a photon detector. This tool allows researchers and facility operators to simulate their experiments and instruments
under real life conditions, identify promising and unattainable regions of the parameter space and ultimately make
better use of valuable beamtime. In this paper, we present an overview about status and future development of the
simulation platform and discuss three applications: 1.) Single–particle imaging of biomolecules using x–ray free
electron lasers and optimization of x–ray pulse properties, 2.) x–ray scattering diagnostics of hot dense plasmas in
high power laser–matter interaction and identification of plasma instabilities, and 3.) x–ray absorption spectroscopy
in warm dense matter created by high energy laser–matter interaction and pulse shape optimization for low–isentrope
dynamic compression.
