Radiation damping effects on the ultrashort x-ray pulses generated by nonlinear Thomson backscattering

Journal Article · Wed Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2370638· OSTI ID:20860391

Yu, Cang; Huichun, Wu; Jun, Zheng; Han, Xu; Youwei, Tian; Wei, Yu ^[1]

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1. State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800 (China)

Nonlinear Thomson backscattering of an intense Gaussian laser pulse by a counterpropagating energetic electron is investigated by numerically solving the electron equation of motion taking into account the radiative damping force. The backscattered radiation characteristics are different for linearly and circularly polarized lasers because of a difference in their ponderomotive forces acting on the electron. The radiative electron energy loss weakens the backscattered power, breaks the symmetry of the backscattered-pulse profile, and prolongs the duration of the backscattered radiation. With the circularly polarized laser, an adjustable double-peaked backscattered pulse can be obtained. Such a profile has potential applications as a subfemtosecond x-ray pump and probe with adjustable time delay and power ratio.

• OSTI ID: 20860391
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 13, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2370638; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
BACKSCATTERING
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
DAMPING
ELECTRON BEAMS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
LASERS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PLASMA
PONDEROMOTIVE FORCE
PULSES
RADIATION TRANSPORT
TAIL ELECTRONS
TIME DELAY
X RADIATION
X-RAY SOURCES