Steady-state microbunching in a storage ring for generating coherent radiation

Synchrotrons and storage rings deliver radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum at high repetition rates, and free electron lasers produce radiation pulses with high peak brightness. However, at present few light sources can generate both high repetition rates and high brightness outside the optical range. We propose to create steady-state microbunching (SSMB) in a storage ring to produce coherent radiation at a high repetition rate or in continuous wave mode. In this Letter we describe a general mechanism for producing SSMB and give sample parameters for extreme ultraviolet lithography and submillimeter sources. We also describe a similar arrangement to produce two pulses with variable spacing for pump-probe experiments. With technological advances, SSMB could reach the soft x-ray range (<10 nm).