Open AccessShort-period high-strength helical undulator by laser-driven bifilar capacitor coil
Author(s) -
Jianhua Tan,
Yifei Li,
Baojun Zhu,
Changqing Zhu,
Jinguang Wang,
Dazhang Li,
Xingqiang Lü,
Yutong Li,
Liming Chen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.029676
Subject(s) - undulator , bifilar coil , laser , optics , synchrotron radiation , physics , electromagnetic coil , free electron laser , magnet , electron , magnetic field , optoelectronics , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , rogowski coil
Laser wakefield accelerators have emerged as a promising candidate for compact synchrotron radiation and even x-ray free electron lasers. Today, to make the electrons emit electromagnetic radiation, the trajectories of laser wakefield accelerated electrons are deflected by transverse wakefield, counter-propagating laser field or external permanent magnet insertion device. Here, we propose a novel type of undulator that has a period of a few hundred microns and a magnetic field of tens of Tesla. The undulator consists of a bifilar capacitor-coil target that sustains a strong discharge current that generates a helical magnetic field around the coil axis when irradiated by a high-energy laser. Coupling this undulator with state-of-the-art laser wakefield accelerators can, simultaneously, produce ultra-bright quasi-monochromatic x-rays with tunable energy ranging 5-250 keV and optimize the free electron laser parameter and gain length compared with a permanent magnet-based undulator. This concept may pave a path toward ultra-compact synchrotron radiation and even x-ray free electron lasers.