The study of matter under extreme conditions, particularly non-repeatable ultrafast processes such as those in high-energy-density physics and inertial confinement fusion, urgently demands innovations in ultrafast imaging diagnostics. To address this, we propose a novel multi-pulse, multi-angle imaging scheme that leverages a beam-splitting design applied to a single ultra-intense laser pulse to generate multiple, precisely delayed sub-pulse beams. This method not only achieves a tunable temporal resolution range from femtoseconds to picoseconds and spatial resolution in the micrometer scale, providing a powerful tool for capturing single-shot ultrafast dynamics, but also overcomes the low repetition rate limitation in petawatt-class laser facilities, enabling previously unattainable continuous dynamic imaging. Experimental validation is scheduled on the 1 PW/0.1 Hz laser system at the Shanghai Superintense Ultrafast Laser Facility. Feasibility of the source is verified by FBPIC simulations and combined with SynchRad for radiation calculations, while Geant4 simulations demonstrate imaging performance.

This paper presents the design and implementation of a distributed control system for the laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) facility at the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM), Chinese Academy of Sciences. This system is developed to support artificial intelligence (AI) integration and automated tuning. Built on the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System, it provides real-time monitoring, device control, alarm handling and data archiving. To enhance modularity and scalability, unified multiuser interfaces were developed using Control System Studio within a microservice architecture. Remote direct memory access was adopted to remove bottlenecks in high-throughput image data transmission, and a hybrid storage framework combining MySQL, InfluxDB and MinIO was implemented for efficient data storage and management. The system has been comprehensively tested in both laboratory and operational environments. This work offers a practical solution for the intelligent evolution of LWFA facilities, laying the groundwork for future AI-driven laser–plasma accelerator systems.

The betatron radiation source features a micrometer-scale source size, a femtosecond-scale pulse duration, milliradian-level divergence angles and a broad spectrum exceeding tens of keV. It is conducive to the high-contrast imaging of minute structures and for investigating interdisciplinary ultrafast processes. In this study, we present a betatron X-ray source derived from a high-charge, high-energy electron beam through a laser wakefield accelerator driven by the 1 PW/0.1 Hz laser system at the Shanghai Superintense Ultrafast Laser Facility (SULF). The critical energy of the betatron X-ray source is 22 ± 5 keV. The maximum X-ray flux reaches up to 4 × 109 photons for each shot in the spectral range of 5–30 keV. Correspondingly, the experiment demonstrates a peak brightness of 1.0 × 1023 photons·s−1·mm−2·mrad−2·0.1%BW−1, comparable to those demonstrated by third-generation synchrotron light sources. In addition, the imaging capability of the betatron X-ray source is validated. This study lays the foundation for future imaging applications.