Sub-picosecond Electron Bunches Research Articles

Subpicosecond Ultracold Electron Source.

We present the first observation of subpicosecond electron bunches from an ultracold electron source. This source is based on near-threshold, two-step, femtosecond photoionization of laser-cooled rubidium gas in a grating magneto-optical trap. Bunch lengths as short as 735±7 fs (rms) have been measured in the self-compression point of the source by means of ponderomotive scattering of the electrons by a 25fs, 800nm laser pulse. The observed temporal structure of the electron bunch depends on the central wavelength of the ionization laser pulse, in agreement with detailed simulations of the atomic photoionization process. This shows that the bunch length limit imposed by the atomic photoionization process has been reached.

A field-enhanced conduction-cooled superconducting cavity for high-repetition-rate ultrafast electron bunch generation

High-repetition-rate sources of bright electron bunches have a wide range of applications. They can directly be employed as probes in electron-scattering setups, or serve as a backbone for the generation of radiation over a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum. This paper describes the development of a compact sub-Mega-electronvolt (sub-MeV) electron-source setup capable of operating at MHz repetition rates and forming sub-picosecond electron bunches with transverse emittance below 20 nm. The setup relies on a conduction-cooled superconducting single-cell resonator with its geometry altered to enhance the field at the surface of the emitter. The system is designed to accommodate cooling using a 2 W pulse-tube cryogen-free cryocooler operated at 4.2 K. Although we focus on the case of a photoemitted electron bunch, the scheme could be adapted to other emission mechanisms.

Continuously tunable narrow-band terahertz generation with a dielectric lined waveguide driven by short electron bunches

A continuously tunable narrow-band terahertz source based on Cherenkov wakefield generation in a dielectric lined waveguide driven by short sub-picosecond electron bunches has been experimentally demonstrated. A large tunability range of 0.55--0.95 THz was achieved by implementing the waveguide design as a planar structure with variable 0.15--1.10 mm gap and thin $25\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ dielectric layers. The source operates essentially in a single mode regime with higher order modes of negligible intensity. THz pulse energy was measured across the tunable range and compared with theory.

Sub-picosecond electron bunch length measurement using coherent transition radiation at SXFEL

Longitudinal electron bunch length plays a significant role in single-pass free-electron lasers (FEL), as the high-gain FEL process depends strongly on the high peak current of electron bunches. Longitudinal electron bunch length was measured by detecting the interferogram of coherent transition radiation generated by electron bunches using a THz interferometer and a Golay cell (spectral range 0.02–20 THz) at Shanghai X-ray free-electron laser. The detailed process of measurement and data analysis are discussed herein. Furthermore, the electron bunch length was estimated based on the dispersive strength $$ R_{56} $$ of the bunch compressor and the energy spread $$ \delta $$ of electron bunches, which were obtained via experiments. The comparison showed that the measured bunch length was consistent with the estimated bunch length.

Generation of quasiequally spaced ultrashort microbunches in a photocathode rf gun

A photocathode rf gun can generate trains of THz subpicosecond electron bunches by illuminating the cathode with trains of laser pulses, but it suffers from the increasing charge in the beam. The THz structure blurs and tends to disappear when the longitudinal space charge forces begin to play a significant role in the beam evolution. In this paper, we propose a scheme to restrain the space charge forces by expanding the transverse size of the laser pulses to reduce the charge density and adopting a multicell gun to increase the beam energy. Thus, quasiequally spaced ultrashort microbunches with relatively high charges can be generated according to our studies. Postacceleration can be used to freeze the longitudinal phase space dynamics. The proposed scheme is in principle able to generate intense multi-color narrow-band THz radiation and offers a promising way towards the tunable intense narrow-band THz sources.

Compact narrow-band THz radiation source based on photocathode rf gun

Narrow-band THz coherent Cherenkov radiation can be driven by a subpicosecond electron bunch traveling along the axis of a hollow cylindrical dielectric-lined waveguide. We present a scheme of compact THz radiation source based on the photocathode rf gun. On the basis of our analytic result, the subpicosecond electron bunch with high charge (800 pC) can be generated directly in the photocathode rf gun. According to the analytical and simulated results, a narrow emission spectrum peaked at 0.24 THz with 2 megawatt (MW) peak power is expected to gain in the proposed scheme (the length of the facility is about 1.2 m).

Generation and measurement of sub-picosecond electron bunch in photocathode rf gun

We consider a scheme to generate a sub-picosecond electron bunch in the photocathode rf gun by improving the acceleration gradient in the gun, suitably tuning the bunch charge, the laser spot size and the acceleration phase, and reducing the growth of transverse emittance by laser shaping. A nondestructive technique is also reported to measure the electron bunch length, by measuring the high-frequency spectrum of wakefield radiation which is caused by the passage of a relativistic electron bunch through a channel surrounded by a dielectric.

Electro-optical measurement of sub-ps structures in low charge electron bunches

Electro-optical detection of THz coherent synchrotron radiation is a nondestructive method for measuring subpicosecond electron bunches or subpicosecond substructures on otherwise longer electron bunches. With a new diagnostic setup at the Swiss Light Source, which combines an amplified Yb fiber laser and a suitable GaP crystal, we demonstrate sampling as well as spectrally resolved single-shot measurements of sliced electron bunches containing as little as a few pC of charge. The single-shot measurements not only allow for a precise electric field characterization but also for a detailed analysis of the timing jitter between the electron bunch and the synchronized Yb fiber laser. The measurements of subsequent turns in the storage ring show distinct deviations from the simulations and we find strong indications that this discrepancy is caused by radiation loss through coherent synchrotron radiation itself, which is not included in many of today's simulation codes.

Investigation of Coherent Diffraction Radiation from a Dual Target system at CTF3

A Coherent Diffraction Radiation (CDR) experiment was built at the CLIC Test Facility 3 at CERN. Two silicon wafers are positioned on one side of the beam and the CDR radiation originating from them is translated towards the Michelson Interferometer. We have demonstrated that the first target cuts off the backgrounds, generated by the beam from upstream of the experimental setup. The results of the theoretical and experimental investigations of the CDR from the two targets and a work towards longitudinal diagnostics of sub-picosecond electron bunches is presented. The radiation spatial distribution measurements were performed and compared with the theory. A capability to obtain interferometric measurements of CDR at the experimental setup was proven. Bunch shape instabilities at CTF3 were investigated, as well.

Observation of coherently enhanced tunable narrow-band terahertz transition radiation from a relativistic sub-picosecond electron bunch train

We experimentally demonstrate the production of narrow-band (δf/f≈20% at f≈0.5 THz) transition radiation with tunable frequency over [0.37, 0.86] THz. The radiation is produced as a train of sub-picosecond relativistic electron bunches transits at the vacuum-aluminum interface of an aluminum converter screen. The bunch train is generated via a transverse-to-longitudinal phase space exchange technique. We also show a possible application of modulated beams to extend the dynamical range of a popular bunch length diagnostic technique based on the spectral analysis of coherent radiation.

Tunable Subpicosecond Electron-Bunch-Train Generation Using a Transverse-To-Longitudinal Phase-Space Exchange Technique

We report on the experimental generation of a train of subpicosecond electron bunches. The bunch train generation is accomplished using a beam line capable of exchanging the coordinates between the horizontal and longitudinal degrees of freedom. An initial beam consisting of a set of horizontally separated beamlets is converted into a train of bunches temporally separated with tunable bunch duration and separation. The experiment reported in this Letter unambiguously demonstrates the conversion process and its versatility.

Phase motion of particles upon formation of subpicosecond electron bunches in a traveling wave under heavy beam loading

The possibility of efficient bunch compression due to the phase motion of particles in the field of a traveling wave is demonstrated. The calculated bunch length is 120 μm, which makes it possible to expect spontaneous coherent radiation from the undulator at a wavelength of 240 μm.

Multibeam cross-correlator for diagnostics of terahertz subpicosecond pulses and electron bunches

We present a scheme of multibeam cross-correlator which allows high-temporal resolution measuring of durations of picosecond and subpicosecond pulses of terahertz range.

Observation of Narrow-Band Terahertz Coherent Cherenkov Radiation from a Cylindrical Dielectric-Lined Waveguide

We report experimental observation of narrow-band coherent Cherenkov radiation driven by a subpicosecond electron bunch traveling along the axis of a hollow cylindrical dielectric-lined waveguide. For an appropriate choice of dielectric wall thickness, a short-pulse beam current profile excites only the fundamental mode of the structure, producing energetic pulses in the terahertz range. We present detailed measurements showing a narrow emission spectrum peaked at 367 + or - 3 GHz from a 1 cm long fused silica capillary tube with submillimeter transverse dimensions, closely matching predictions. We demonstrate a 100 GHz shift in the emitted central frequency when the tube wall thickness is changed by 50 microm. Calibrated measurements of the radiated energy indicate up to 10 microJ per 60 ps pulse for an incident beam charge of 200 pC, corresponding to a peak power of approximately 150 kW.

Analysis and elimination of the distortion in electro-optic measurement of low-energy subpicosecond electron bunches

Electro-optic (EO) technique is widely used to characterize longitudinal profile of electron bunches. However, electron bunches with a low energy (∼MeV) and a short time duration (∼subpicosecond) cannot be well resolved by EO measurement, which leads to distortion. The convolution theorem is proposed to analyze this distortion in EO measurement. And the factors leading to the distortion are discussed, among which the divergent Coulomb field of electrons is the main one. Distortion elimination and reconstruction of electron bunch profiles from detected EO signals is an ill-posed inverse problem. This paper proposes an iterative Tikhonov regularization method to solve this inverse problem and to reconstruct electron bunch profiles from the EO signals detected by the EO measurement. The feasibility of our proposal is tested and numerically verified based on subpicosecond electron bunches with several MeV energy.

Experimental Characterization of Sub-picosecond Electron Bunch Length with Coherent Diffraction Radiation

Diffraction radiation is one of the most promising candidates for electron beam diagnostics for the International Linear Collider, x-ray free electron lasers and energy recovery linac due to its non-intercepting characteristics. We report the non-intercepting measurement of sub-ps electron bunch length with coherent diffraction radiation. The bunch length is measured with a Martin—Puplett interferometer and the detailed longitudinal bunch shape is reconstructed with the Kramers—Kronig relation. The rms bunch length is found to be about 0.73 ps, which confirms a successful commissioning of the bunch compressor and the interferometer.

High-Gradient Plasma-Wakefield Acceleration with Two Subpicosecond Electron Bunches

A plasma-wakefield experiment is presented where two 60 MeV subpicosecond electron bunches are sent into a plasma produced by a capillary discharge. Both bunches are shorter than the plasma wavelength, and the phase of the second bunch relative to the plasma wave is adjusted by tuning the plasma density. It is shown that the second bunch experiences a 150 MeV/m loaded accelerating gradient in the wakefield driven by the first bunch. This is the first experiment to directly demonstrate high-gradient, controlled acceleration of a short-pulse trailing electron bunch in a high-density plasma.

Nonlinear Cross-Phase Modulation with Intense Single-Cycle Terahertz Pulses

We have demonstrated nonlinear cross-phase modulation in electro-optic crystals using intense, single-cycle terahertz (THz) radiation. Individual THz pulses, generated by coherent transition radiation emitted by subpicosecond electron bunches, have peak energies of up to 100 microJ per pulse. The time-dependent electric field of the intense THz pulses induces cross-phase modulation in electro-optic crystals through the Pockels effect, leading to spectral shifting, broadening, and modulation of copropagating laser pulses. The observed THz-induced cross-phase modulation agrees well with a time-dependent phase-shift model.

Conceptual design of a laser wakefield acceleration experiment with external bunch injection

We present a conceptual design of a laser wakefield acceleration experiment where a sub-picosecond electron bunch from a photo-cathode RF linac is injected into a plasma channel just before a laser pulse. The pulse overtakes the bunch which is then trapped, compressed and accelerated in the laser wakefield. This way ultra-relativistic bunches with a size of the order of a micron and relatively low energy spread can be generated. We show the results of our simulations and discuss the setup for a demonstration experiment.

Experimental Studies of Transverse and Longitudinal Beam Dynamics in Photoinjector

Both the transverse and longitudinal beam dynamics in a photoinjector were investigated experimentally for high-brightness electron beam generation. The transverse emittance growth and the energy spread, both due to the rf and the space-charge effects in the rf gun, were investigated with the laser injection phase. A 31.7 MeV electron beam at 1.0 nC with a normalized rms transverse emittance of 3.2±0.2 mm·mrad, an rms bunch length of 1.8±0.2 ps, and an rms relative energy spread of 0.04±0.01% was obtained in the photoinjector with a 5 ps (full width at half maximum; FWHM) laser. The phase compression in the bunch length was observed in the rf gun. A sub-picosecond electron bunch was observed experimentally in the rf gun at the low injection phase, such as 0.7±0.2 ps at 15° and 0.5±0.1 ps at 10°. The dependences of the transverse emittance, the bunch length and the energy spread on the rf phase of a booster linear accelerator (linac) downstream of the rf gun were investigated experimentally.