Abstract

We report the production of optically spaced attosecond electron microbunches produced by the inverse free-electron-laser (IFEL) process. The IFEL is driven by a Ti:sapphire laser synchronized with the electron beam. The IFEL is followed by a magnetic chicane that converts the energy modulation into the longitudinal microbunch structure. The microbunch train is characterized by observing coherent optical transition radiation (COTR) at multiple harmonics of the bunching. Experimental results are compared with 1D analytic theory showing good agreement. Estimates of the bunching factors are given and correspond to a microbunch length of 410 attosec FWHM. The formation of stable attosecond electron pulse trains marks an important step towards direct laser acceleration.

Details

Title
Production and characterization of attosecond electron bunch trains
Author
Sears, Christopher M S; Colby, Eric; Ischebeck, Rasmus; McGuinness, Christopher; Nelson, Janice; Noble, Robert; Siemann, Robert H; Spencer, James; Walz, Dieter
Section
ARTICLES
Publication year
2008
Publication date
Jun 2008
Publisher
American Physical Society
e-ISSN
10984402
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2551220154
Copyright
© 2008. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.