Laser-driven radiation sources in the ALPHA-X project
Date
2011
Authors
Wiggins S.M.
Gallacher J.G.
Schlenvoigt H.-P.
Schwoerer H.
Welsh G.H.
Issac R.C.
Brunetti E.
Vieux G.
Shanks R.P.
Cipiccia S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The Advanced Laser-Plasma High-Energy Accelerators towards X-rays (ALPHA-X) programme is developing laserplasma accelerators for the production of ultra-short electron bunches with subsequent generation of high brilliance, short-wavelength radiation pulses. Ti:sapphire laser systems with peak power in the range 20-200 TW are coupled into mm- and cm-scale plasma channels in order to generate electron beams of energy 50-800 MeV. Ultra-short radiation pulses generated in these compact sources will be of tremendous benefit for time-resolved studies in a wide range of applications across many branches of science. Primary mechanisms of radiation production are (i) betatron radiation due to transverse oscillations of the highly relativistic electrons in the plasma wakefield, (ii) gamma ray bremsstrahlung radiation produced from the electron beams impacting on metal targets and (iii) undulator radiation arising from transport of the electron beam through a planar undulator. In the latter, free-electron laser action will be observed if the electron beam quality is sufficiently high leading to stimulated emission and a significant increase in the photon yield. All these varied source types are characterised by their high brilliance arising from the inherently short duration (~1-10 fs) of the driving electron bunch. © 2011 SPIE.
Description
Keywords
Laser-Plasma interaction, Radiation sources, Relativistic electron beams, Undulator, Wakefield acceleration, X-rays, Bremsstrahlung radiation, Compact sources, Electron bunch, High-energy accelerator, Laser plasma, Laser-plasma accelerator, Laser-plasma interactions, Metal target, Peak power, Photon yield, Plasma channel, Plasma wakefield, Primary mechanism, Radiation pulse, Radiation source, Radiation sources, Relativistic electron, Relativistic electron beam, Short durations, Short-wavelength, Source types, Ti:sapphire laser systems, Time resolved studies, Transverse oscillation, Undulator radiation, Wakefield acceleration, Beam plasma interactions, Electron beams, Electron optics, Electrons, Free electron lasers, Gamma rays, Laser produced plasmas, Magnetohydrodynamics, Particle beam bunching, Plasma waves, Quantum optics, Radioactivity measurement, Terahertz waves, Wavemeters, Wigglers, X rays, Radiation
Citation
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
8075
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79958735919&partnerID=40&md5=1985d7165f3cfe98df95192be568bde5
8075
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79958735919&partnerID=40&md5=1985d7165f3cfe98df95192be568bde5