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A compact free-electron laser for generating coherent radiation in the extreme ultraviolet region.
- Source :
- Nature Photonics; Sep2008, Vol. 2 Issue 9, p555-559, 5p, 1 Diagram, 1 Chart, 3 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Single-pass free-electron lasers based on self-amplified spontaneous emission are enabling the generation of laser light at ever shorter wavelengths, including extreme ultraviolet, soft X-rays and even hard X-rays. A typical X-ray free-electron laser is a few kilometres in length and requires an electron-beam energy higher than 10 GeV (refs 6, 8). If such light sources are to become accessible to more researchers, a significant reduction in scale is desirable Here, we report observations of brilliant extreme-ultraviolet radiation from a 55-m-long compact self-amplified spontaneous-emission source, which combines short-period undulators with a high-quality electron source operating at a low acceleration energy of 250 MeV. The radiation power reaches saturation at wavelengths ranging from 51 to 61 nm with a maximum pulse energy of 30 µJ. The ultralow emittance (0.6π mm mrad) of the electron beam from a CeB<subscript>6</subscript> thermionic cathode is barely degraded by a multiple-stage bunch compression system that dramatically enhances the beam current from 1 to 300 A. This achievement expands the potential for generating X-ray free-electron laser radiation with a compact 2-GeV machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17494885
- Volume :
- 2
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Nature Photonics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34051714
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.134