Simulation of a concept for a compact ultrafast X-ray pulse source based on RF and THz technologies

Abstract

We study through simulations a layout mixing RF and THz technologies for a compact ultrafast X-ray pulse source based on Inverse Compton Scattering (ICS), aiming to deliver few femtoseconds to sub-femtosecond pulses. The layout consists of an S-band gun as the electron source and a dielectric-loaded circular waveguide driven by a multicycle THz pulse to accelerate and longitudinally compress the bunch, before X-ray generation via ICS with a laser pulse. We detail several schemes allowing the optimization of the electron bunch properties. This optimization leads to a preliminary layout and various working points able to deliver 0.1–5 pC bunches, ranging from 15 to 18 MeV average kinetic energy, 0.4 to 5 fs rms length, 0.1% to 2.6% rms energy spread, and 5 to 13 μm rms transverse size. Simultaneously, the beamline is kept compact (≈1.3 m up to the ICS point), which has not yet been achieved using only conventional RF technologies. The properties of the X-ray pulse are investigated with simulations, showing the possibility to tune its energy between 2.9 and 11.5 keV. For 400 mJ of laser energy, 1.5 × 104–7.7 × 104 photons/pulse in 1.5% rms bandwidth or 6.2 × 103–3.5 × 104 photons/pulse with lower bandwidths (0.56%–1.5% rms along the energy range) can be expected. The properties of the DLW and of the THz pulse driving it, the state-of-the-art of the THz pulse generation schemes, and the influence of various jitters and the limits that they should not exceed for a reasonably stable operation are finally given.