High-harmonic x-ray undulator radiation for nanoscale-wavelength free-electron lasers

Abstract

We explore the undulator radiation (UR) from relativistic electrons in two-frequency undulators intended for use in x-ray free-electron lasers (FELs). We use an exact analytical account for the major sources of spectral line broadening of the spontaneous UR to describe the UR spectrum, intensity and emission line shape. We also show possible partial compensation of the off-axis divergence by ad hoc imposed weak transverse constant magnetic components. The harmonic radiation of the two-frequency undulator is studied. High-harmonics amplification in the two-frequency undulator is underlined for possible use in x-ray FELs and the generation of powerful x-ray radiation is demonstrated. The evolution of high harmonic power is studied with the help of the developed phenomenological self-amplified spontaneous emission FEL model. The performance of a high-gain harmonic generation FEL with a two-frequency undulator–prebuncher is explored. Harmonic multiplication cascades are introduced in FELs to obtain nanometer x-ray FEL radiation in reduced size FELs at ~30 m with seed from commercially available excimer laser and ~0.5 GeV electrons.