Transition radiation from relativistic electrons crossing a perfectly conducting conical surface: Calculation and experiment

The angular distributions of the transition radiation intensity when a charged particle passes through the vertex of a perfectly conducting conical surface have been calculated. The radiation generated both when the particle exits the conductor and when it falls on the conductor has been considered. The angular distributions of the intensity of the transition radiation generated by a bunch of relativistic electrons have been measured in the millimeter wavelength range. A microtron with a particle energy of 7.4 MeV was the source of electrons. The influence of the particle injection direction and the conical-surface opening angle on the angular distribution of the radiation intensity has been studied. The measurements have shown that the distribution of the radiation generated by a charge when it enters the horn differs significantly in pattern from the distribution when it exits the horn.     

Generation of electron nanobunches and short-wavelength radiation upon reflection of a relativistic-intensity laser pulse from a finite-size target

We have proposed an efficient scheme of generation of short dense electron bunches during the interaction at large angles of incidence of a laser pulse with a thin transversally semibounded laser target. Streams of bunches can be used to simultaneously and independently generate pulsed X-ray radiation as fast electrons hit secondary targets. Dependences of bunch parameters (the number of particles in the bunch and the bunch energy and thickness) on the angle of incidence and laser intensity have been obtained. It has been shown that, upon reflection from the target, the relativistic-intensity laser wave is efficiently converted (the energy-conversion factor reaches ～20%) into a sequence of electromagnetic tens-of-nanometer-long atto pulses, which follow one after another in the period of the initial laser wave. We have investigated how the parameters of the atto pulse depend on the angle of incidence and the laser intensity. We have shown that atto pulses are generated most efficiently at large angles of incidence (≥50°) of the laser pulse on the target.     

High power THz source based on coherent radiation of picosecond relativistic electron bunch train

Tunable and compact high power terahertz (THz) radiation based on coherent radiation (CR) of the picosecond relativistic electron bunch train is under development at the Tsinghua accelerator lab. Coherent synchronization radiation (CSR) and coherent transition radiation (CTR) are researched based on an S-band compact electron linac, a bending magnet or a thin foil. The bunch train’s form factors, which are the key factor of THz radiation, are analyzed by the PARMELA simulation. The effects of electron bunch trains under different conditions, such as the bunch number, bunch charges, micro-pulses inter-distance, and accelerating gradient of the gun are investigated separately in this paper. The optimal radiated THz power and spectra should take these factors as a whole into account.     

Experimental study of coherent transition radiation from relativistic electron bunches entering a dihedral angle

The angular distributions of the intensity of transition radiation from a bunch of relativistic electrons entering a dihedral angle between two conducting planes have been measured in a millimeter wavelength range. A microtron with a particle energy of 7.4 MeV is used as a source of electrons. The effect of the particle injection direction and the magnitude of the dihedral angle on the angular distribution of the radiation intensity has been analyzed. The measurements show that the character of the distribution of radiation from a charge entering the dihedral angle significantly differs from that for a charge escaping the angle. A comparatively small change in the magnitude of the dihedral angle can lead to qualitative changes in the angular distribution of radiation from a charge entering the dihedral angle.     

Theoretical and numerical analysis of coherent Smith-Purcell radiation

Coherent enhancement of Smith-Purcell radiation has attracted people's attention not only in adopting a better source but also in beam diagnostics aspect. In this paper, we study the intrinsic mechanism of coherent Smith-Purcell radiation on the basis of the van den Berg model. The emitted power of Smith-Purcell radiation is determined by the bunch profile in transverse and longitudinal directions. For short bunch whose longitudinal pulse length is comparable with the radiation wavelength, it can be concluded approximately that the power is proportional to the square number of electrons per bunch.     

Collective properties of a relativistic electron beam injected into a high intensity optical lattice

Behaviour of a relativistic electron bunch, injected and trapped in a high intensity optical lattice resulting from the interference of two laser beams is studied. The optical lattice modifies the phase space distribution of the electron bunch due to the trapping and compression of the electrons by a ponderomotive force. High-frequency longitudinal beam eigenmodes of the trapped electron bunch are described in the framework of fluid and kinetic models. Such beam oscillations are expected to play a pivotal role in a stimulated Raman scattering of laser beams on the electrons.     

Observation of frequency-locked coherent terahertz Smith-Purcell radiation

We report the observation of enhanced coherent Smith-Purcell radiation (SPR) at terahertz (THz) frequencies from a train of picosecond bunches of 15 MeV electrons passing above a grating. SPR is more intense than other sources, such as transition radiation, by a factor of Ng, the number of grating periods. For electron bunches that are short compared with the radiation wavelength, coherent emission occurs, enhanced by a factor of Ne, the number of electrons in the bunch. The electron beam consists of a train of Nb bunches, giving an energy density spectrum restricted to harmonics of the 17 GHz bunch train frequency, with an increased energy density at these frequencies by a factor of Nb. We report the first observation of SPR displaying all three of these enhancements, NgNeNb. This powerful SPR THz radiation can be detected with a high signal to noise ratio by a heterodyne receiver.     

Generation of short electron bunches by a laser pulse crossing a sharp boundary of inhomogeneous plasma

The formation of short electron bunches during the passage of a laser pulse of relativistic intensity through a sharp boundary of semi-bounded plasma has been analytically studied. It is shown in one-dimensional geometry that one physical mechanism that is responsible for the generation of electron bunches is their self-injection into the wake field of a laser pulse, which occurs due to the mixing of electrons during the action of the laser pulse on plasma. Simple analytic relationships are obtained that can be used for estimating the length and charge of an electron bunch and the spread of electron energies in the bunch. The results of the analytical investigation are confirmed by data from numerical simulations.     

Producing terahertz coherent synchrotron radiation at the Hefei Light Source

This paper theoretically proves that an electron storage ring can generate coherent radiation in the THz region using a quick kicker magnet and an AC sextupole magnet. When the vertical chromaticity is modulated by the AC sextupole magnet, the vertical beam collective motion excited by the kicker produces a wavy spatial structure after a number of longitudinal oscillation periods. The radiation spectral distribution was calculated from the wavy bunch parameters at the Hefei Light Source(HLS). When the electron energy is reduced to 400 Me V, extremely strong coherent synchrotron radiation(CSR) at 0.115 THz should be produced.     

Near-GeV-energy laser-wakefield acceleration of self-injected electrons in a centimeter-scale plasma channel

The first three-dimensional, particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of laser-wakefield acceleration of self-injected electrons in a 0.84 cm long plasma channel are reported. The frequency evolution of the initially 50 fs (FWHM) long laser pulse by photon interaction with the wake followed by plasma dispersion enhances the wake which eventually leads to self-injection of electrons from the channel wall. This first bunch of electrons remains spatially highly localized. Its phase space rotation due to slippage with respect to the wake leads to a monoenergetic bunch of electrons with a central energy of 0.26 GeV after 0.55 cm propagation. At later times, spatial bunching of the laser enhances the acceleration of a second bunch of electrons to energies up to 0.84 GeV before the laser pulse intensity is significantly reduced.     

Polymethyl methacrylate glow under the influence of runaway electron beams generated in a gas diode

Spectral and amplitude–time characteristics of PMMA radiation under the impact of runaway electrons with subnanosecond duration are studied. The PMMA radiation spectra for a subnanosecond electron beam pulse duration are determined for the first time. The studies show that radiation of the band with a maximum at about 490 nm the intensity of which decreases toward the short-wave spectral region is recorded in the glow spectra. The glow intensity of this band varies proportionally to the number of electrons in the beam, which allows the possibility of using this radiation for determination of the number of high energy electrons in electron beams.     

Broadband emission from a relativistic electron bunch in a semi-infinite waveguide

A study is made of the excitation of a transition radiation pulse during the injection of a charged particle bunch through the end metal wall into a semi-infinite cylindrical waveguide. Exact analytic expressions for the fields of a thin ring-shaped bunch are obtained in terms of the Lommel functions of two variables. The energy efficiency, power, and spectrum of radiation emitted from a finite-size charged bunch in a vacuum waveguide are calculated numerically with allowance for the multimode nature of the excited field. It is shown that, under certain conditions, the bunch can generate a short, high-intensity electromagnetic pulse with a broad frequency spectrum. The effect of various parameters of the charged bunch-waveguide system (such as the bunch current, bunch duration, and waveguide radius) on the generation efficiency of a transition radiation pulse is investigated.     

Cerenkov radiation of a spatially extended charged bunch moving along the axis of a cylindrical channel in a transparent medium

Relations are obtained which determine the electromagnetic field produced by an axially symmetric bunch of charged particles moving along the axis of a cylindrical channel in a transparent medium. The problem of the Cerenkov radiation of such a bunch is investigated and relations are obtained for the intensity of this radiation.In conclusion the author thanks Professor A. A. Sokolov for discussing the results.     

Interaction of a high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse with extended nanofilaments of dense plasma

Generation and propagation of fast electrons in laser targets consisting of thin nanofilaments are studied numerically and analytically. Such targets completely absorb laser radiation and exhibit a large coefficient of laser-energy conversion to kinetic energy of a flow of fast electrons. Analytical estimates show that the optimal thickness of the filament is on the order of the skin depth of the laser plasma, while an optimal distance between filaments is on the order of the Debye radius of hot electrons. A bunch of relativistic electrons can propagate as far as several hundred micrometers in such targets, while the fastest electrons can propagate several millimeters. Upon bending of filaments, the flow of electrons propagates along the filaments and can be focused by bringing the filaments together. Laser targets of the discussed composition are used as sources of dense bunches of relativistic electrons and subsequent generation of high-intensity X-ray radiation with their help.     

On Coherent radiation in collisions of short bunches of relativistic particles

Suppression of coherent radiation arising in collisions of relativistic electrons with a short bunch of relativistic particles is predicted. It is shown that this effect must occur in the low-frequency range of emitted photons if radiation has a not purely dipole character. The mechanism of this effect differs from the mechanism of electron synchrotron radiation in the field of the incident particle bunch.     

Comparison between the Results of Simulating the Synchrotron Radiation from a Bending Magnet and Experimental Data

The results of using two (SPECTRA and SRW) programs for simulating synchrotron radiation (SR) are presented. Calculations are performed for coherent SR from a beam of electrons with moderately relativistic energies in a short bending magnet. Simulation is carried out for real beam parameters. A comparison between simulation and experimental data indicates their good agreement. Both general information for the given codes grouped by a number of criteria and specific data on simulating radiation from bending magnets are presented.     

Interaction of an electron bunch with a laser pulse in vacuum

The output properties of electrons accelerated by the vacuum laser acceleration scheme CAS (capture and acceleration scenario) are addressed. The transport process of the electron bunch, the fraction of the CAS electrons of the incident electrons, the correlation of electron energy with position and scattering angle, the energy spectrum and angular distributions as well as the emittance of the outgoing electrons are studied at a laser intensity of a₀=10. In addition, the effects of the laser intensity, beam width, and pulse duration on the properties of the output electrons are also examined. Physical explanations of those output characteristics are presented based on the mechanism behind the CAS scheme. The feasibility of CAS to become a realistic laser accelerator scheme is explored. PACS 41.75.Jv; 42.60.Jf; 41.85.Ja     

超相对论强度激光与薄膜靶作用中0.4 nm以下X射线阿秒脉冲的产生

用一维粒子模拟程序对功率密度在10²² W/cm²以上的超强激光驱动薄膜靶产生的相对论电子层及其经过汤姆孙散射产生的阿秒X射线进行了研究. 结果表明, 在超相对论强度范围下增大驱动激光强度, 相应减小等离子体密度及厚度可使电子层获得更高纵向动量, 使汤姆孙散射光明显向更短波长移动. 优化相关参数得到了波长为 1.168 nm的阿秒脉冲. 经过对倍频探测光方案与驱动光以及薄膜靶参数进行综合考虑和优化, 得到的X射线相干辐射波长有效减小到0.4 nm以下, 产生的光子能量达到2 keV以上. 关键词： 超相对论强度激光 阿秒X射线 相对论电子层 汤姆孙后向散射     

Generation of 0.1 THz coherent synchrotron radiation with compact S-band linac at AIST

The 0.1 THz coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) was successfully generated in the 90° bending magnet of the compact S-band linac with the achromatic arc section using the ultra-short electron bunch which has the energy of 40 MeV, the bunch charge of about 1nc and the bunch length less than 1 ps (rms). The electron bunch compression of 1 nC electron bunch was achieved less than 1 ps (rms) by controlling the Q-magnets in the achromatic arc section as the bunch length was measured by the rms bunch length monitor.     

Emittance growth during bunch compression in the CTF-II

Measurements of the beam emittance during bunch compression in the CLIC Test Facility (CTF-II) are described. The measurements were made with different beam charges and different energy correlations versus the bunch compressor settings which were varied from no compression through the point of full compression and to overcompression. Significant increases in the beam emittance were observed with the maximum emittance occurring near the point of full (maximal) compression. Finally, evaluation of possible emittance dilution mechanisms indicates that coherent synchrotron radiation was the most likely cause.