A Laser Frequency Transverse Modulation Might Compensate for the Spectral Broadening Due to Large Electron Energy Spread in Thomson Sources

Compact laser plasma accelerators generate high-energy electron beams with increasing quality. When used in inverse Compton backscattering, however, the relatively large electron energy spread jeopardizes potential applications requiring small bandwidths. We present here a novel interaction scheme that allows us to compensate for the negative effects of the electron energy spread on the spectrum, by introducing a transverse spatial frequency modulation in the laser pulse. Such a laser chirp, together with a properly dispersed electron beam, can substantially reduce the broadening of the Compton bandwidth due to the electron energy spread. We show theoretical analysis and numerical simulations for hard X-ray Thomson sources based on laser plasma accelerators

Study of the beam dynamics in a linac with the code retar

The three-dimensional fully relativistic and self- consistent code RETAR has been developed to model the dynamics of high-brightness electron beams and, in particular, to assess the importance of the retarded radiative part of the emitted electromagnetic fields in all conditions where the electrons experience strong accelerations. In this analysis we evaluate the radiative energy losses in the electron emission process from the photocathode of an injector, during the successive acceleration of the electron beam in the RF cavity and the focalization due to the magnetic field of the solenoid. The analysis is specifically carried out with parameters of importance in the framework of the SPARC and PLASMONX projects

Improving performance of inverse Compton sources through laser chirping

We present a new paradigm for computation of radiation spectra in the non-linear regime of operation of inverse Compton sources characterized by high laser intensities. The resulting simulations show an unprecedented level of agreement with the experiments. Increasing the laser intensity changes the longitudinal velocity of the electrons during their collision, leading to considerable non-linear broadening in the scattered radiation spectra. The effects of such ponderomotive broadening are so deleterious that most inverse Compton sources either remain at low laser intensities or pay a steep price to operate at a small fraction of the physically possible peak spectral output. This ponderomotive broadening can be reduced by a suitable frequency modulation (also referred to as "chirping", which is not necessarily linear) of the incident laser pulse, thereby drastically increasing the peak spectral density. This frequency modulation, included in the new code as an optional functionality, is used in simulations to motivate the experimental implementation of this transformative technique.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

A Laser Frequency Transverse Modulation Might Compensate for the Spectral Broadening Due to Large Electron Energy Spread in Thomson Sources

Compact laser plasma accelerators generate high-energy electron beams with increasing quality. When used in inverse Compton backscattering, however, the relatively large electron energy spread jeopardizes potential applications requiring small bandwidths. We present here a novel interaction scheme that allows us to compensate for the negative effects of the electron energy spread on the spectrum, by introducing a transverse spatial frequency modulation in the laser pulse. Such a laser chirp, together with a properly dispersed electron beam, can substantially reduce the broadening of the Compton bandwidth due to the electron energy spread. We show theoretical analysis and numerical simulations for hard X-ray Thomson sources based on laser plasma accelerators

Effect of different spectral distributions to image a contrast detail phantom in the mammography energy range

Traditionally X-ray sources used in mammography are X-ray tubes. Synchrotron radiation sources have shown better imaging performances, but they cannot replace conventional X-ray tube systems in routine mammographic examinations. A new generation of quasi-monochromatic, high-flux X-ray sources is currently under development, based on Thomson backscattering of photons produced by a laser on a highly focused electron beam. They offer important potential applications in the medical field. In this work, we will discuss an application in the field of mammography, by using a Monte Carlo code, in which the effect of different spectraldistributions and different mean energies on the image quality is studied. A test object, consisting of a block of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) containing air-filled holes (Contrast Detail Phantom) is used for the simulations. Results show 1–2 keV of energy spread for a quasi-monochromatic source produce images whose quality is comparable within 3–4% with those obtained by monochromatic sources and whose visibility is dramatically enhanced with respect to images obtained with X-ray tubes

Dependence of image quality on energy spread for a Bragg diffraction based radiography system

The aim of this work is to investigate the relationship between contrast and energy resolution of a quasi-monochromatic X-ray system based on Bragg diffraction on a mosaic crystal. Three different energies have been considered: 18, 22 and 26 keV. A commercial phantom containing large and small area details and a digital detector have been used. Results show that for large area details and for a certain value of energy, the energy spread of the incident X-ray beams produces a small reduction of the contrast, while for small area details the high reduction of the contrast is principally due to the spatial resolution properties of the system

Status of Thomson source at SPARC/PLASMONX

The PLasma Acceleration and MONochromatic X-ray generation (PLASMONX) project foresees the installation at LNF of a 0.3 PW (6 J, 20 fs pulse) Ti:Sa laser system, named Frascati Laser for Acceleration and Multidisciplinary Experiments (FLAME), to operate in close connection with the existent SPARC electron photo-injector, allowing for advanced laser/e-beam interaction experiments. Among the foreseen scientific activities, a Thomson scattering experiment between the SPARC electron bunch and the high power laser will be performed. At the present time the linac has been tested and the electron beam characterized up to the maximum operating energy (150 MeV). The beam lines transporting the beam to the interaction chamber with the laser have been designed. The electron final focusing system, featuring a quadrupole triplet and large radius solenoid magnet (ensuring an e-beam waist of 5–10 μm) as well as the whole interaction chamber layout has been defined. The optical transfer line issues: transport up to the interaction; tight focusing; diagnostics and fine positioning; have been solved within the final design. The construction of the building hosting the laser has been completed; delivering and installation of the laser, as much of the beam lines elements will take place in the next months