Prospects for compact high-intensity laser synchrotron x-ray and gamma sources
A laser interacting with a relativistic electron beam behaves like a virtual wiggler of an extremely short period equal to half of the laser wavelength. This approach opens a route to relatively compact, high- brightness x-ray sources alternative or complementary to conventional synchrotron light sources. Although not new, the laser synchrotron source (LSS) concept is still waiting for a convincing demonstration. Available at the BNL Accelerator Test Facility (ATF), a high- brightness electron beam and the high-power C0{sub 2} laser may be used as prototype LSS brick stones. In a feasible demonstration experiment, 10 GW, 100 ps C0{sub 2} laser beam will be brought to a head-on collision with a 10 ps, 0.5 nC, 50 MeV electron bunch. Flashes of collimated 4.7 keV (2.6 A) x-rays of 10-ps pulse duration, with a flux of {approximately}10{sup 19} photons/sec, will be produced via linear Compton backscattering. The x-ray spectra is tunable proportionally to the e- beam energy. A rational short-term extension of the proposed experiment would be further enhancement of the x-ray flux to the 10{sup 22} photon/sec level, after the ongoing ATF C0{sub 2} laser upgrade to 5 TW peak power and electron bunch shortening to 3 ps is realized. In the future, exploiting the promising approach of a high-gradient laser wake field accelerator, a compact ``table- top`` LSS of monochromatic gamma radiation may become feasible.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source Dept.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 459778
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-63684-Rev.1/97; CONF-9610210-9-Rev.1/97; ON: DE97003175; TRN: 97:006699
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 7. workshop on advanced accelerator concepts, Lake Tahoe, CA (United States), 12-18 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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High-intensity laser synchrotron x-ray source
Prospects for compact high-intensity laser synchrotron x-ray and gamma sources