Techniques for synchronization of X-ray pulses to the pump laser in an ultrafast X-ray facility

Accurate timing of ultrafast X-ray probe pulses emitted from a synchrotron radiation source with respect to the signal initiating a process in the sample under study is critical for the investigation of structural dynamics in the femtosecond regime. We describe schemes for achieving accurate timing of femtosecond X-ray synchrotron radiation pulses relative to a pump laser, where X-rays pulses of <100 fs duration are generated from the proposed LUX source based on a recirculating superconducting linac. We present a description of the timing signal generation and distribution systems to minimize timing jitter of the X-rays relative to the experimental lasers.