Open AccessGeneration of bright attosecond x-ray pulse trains via Thomson scattering from laser-plasma accelerators
Author(s) -
Wen Luo,
Tong-Pu Yu,
M Chen,
Yimeng Song,
Zhichao Zhu,
H. B. Zhuo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.032098
Subject(s) - attosecond , thomson scattering , physics , optics , laser , photon , pulse (music) , brightness , compton scattering , electron , scattering , ultrashort pulse , detector , nuclear physics
Generation of attosecond x-ray pulse attracts more and more attention within the advanced light source user community due to its potentially wide applications. Here we propose an all-optical scheme to generate bright, attosecond hard x-ray pulse trains by Thomson backscattering of similarly structured electron beams produced in a vacuum channel by a tightly focused laser pulse. Design parameters for a proof-of-concept experiment are presented and demonstrated by using a particle-in-cell code and a four-dimensional laser-Compton scattering simulation code to model both the laser-based electron acceleration and Thomson scattering processes. Trains of 200 attosecond duration hard x-ray pulses holding stable longitudinal spacing with photon energies approaching 50 keV and maximum achievable peak brightness up to 10 20 photons/s/mm 2 /mrad 2 /0.1%BW for each micro-bunch are observed. The suggested physical scheme for attosecond x-ray pulse trains generation may directly access the fastest time scales relevant to electron dynamics in atoms, molecules and materials.