Laser-driven deflection structure for charged particle beams

Researchers in the Ginzton lab at Stanford University have patented an all-dielectric laser-driven microstructure for producing controllable charged particle beam. The key concept for this laser-driven undulator is its ability to provide phase synchronicity between the deflection force from the laser and the electron beam for a distance that is much greater than the laser wavelength. Because of the possibility of high-peak electric fields from ultrashort pulse lasers on dielectric materials, the proposed undulator is expected to produce phase-synchronous GV/m deflection fields on a relativistic electron bunch and therefore lead to a very compact free electron-based radiation device. End user applications include particle accelerators, security scanners, and X-rays for medical imaging.

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Image credit - Physical Review Special Topics-Accelerators and Beams, Vol. 11, Issue 3, March 20, 2008.

Figure Description- (a) Perspective view of a section of the proposed deflection structure element. (b) Top view of a section of the structure. While the periodic grooves maintain phase synchronicity, the laser pulse-front tilt guarantees synchronicity of the laser pulse envelope with the relativistic electron bunch traveling in the vacuum channel.