Femtosecond X-ray pulses from a synchrotron

Summary form only given, as follows. Ultrashort optical pulses have been a remarkable tool for the investigation of dynamic processes in physics, chemistry and biology. X-ray measurement techniques using synchrotrons have revolutionized the determination of static molecular structures. In this talk I describe recent advances which permit the generation of X-ray pulses having a duration in the femtosecond time regime, directly from a synchrotron. Such pulses will enable dynamic structural determinations. I discuss experimental results in X-ray pulse generation at the Advanced Light Source using a novel pulse slicing technique.