title: Ponderomotive laser acceleration and focusing in vacuum for generation of attosecond electron bunches.
abstract: A novel approach for the generation of ultrabright attosecond electron bunches is proposed, based on acceleration in vacuum, by a short laser pulse. The laser-pulse profile is tailored such that the electrons are both focused and accelerated by the ponderomotive force of the light. Using time-averaged equations of motion, analytical criteria for optimal regime of acceleration are found. It is shown that for realistic laser parameters, a beam with up to 10(6) particles and normalized transverse and longitudinal emittances <10(-8) m can be produced.
authors.affiliation: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94309, USA.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Stupakov
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zolotorev