Laser synchrotron radiation as a compact source of tunable, short pulse hard X-rays

Abstract

A compact laser synchrotron source (LSS) is proposed as a means of generating tunable, narrow bandwidth, ultrashort pulses of hard X-rays. The LSS is based on the Thomson backscattering of intense laser radiation from a counterstreaming electron beam. Advances in both compact ultraintense solid-state lasers and high brightness rf linac beams make the LSS an attractive compact source of high brightness X-rays, particularly at photon energies beyond ∼ 30 keV. The spectral flux, brightness, bandwidth and pulse structure are analyzed. In the absence of filtering the spectral bandwidth in the LSS is typically ⪅ 1% and is limited by electron beam emittance and energy spread. Two configurations of the LSS are discussed, one providing high peak power and the other high average power.