Laser and synchrotron radiation pump-probe x-ray diffraction experiments

Recent developments have allowed x-ray diffraction techniques at synchrotro n radiation facilities to be employed with a temporal resolution of around 1 ps. These developments are the availability of firstly, high brightness t hird-generation x-ray sources, secondly, passively mode-locked lasers with 100 fs temporal duration and thirdly, averaging streak cameras with sub-pic osecond temporal resolution. In this paper, we discuss how these novel devi ces are combined in time-resolved x-ray diffraction experiments at synchrot ron radiation facilities.