title: Generation of bright attosecond x-ray pulse trains via Thomson scattering from laser-plasma accelerators.
abstract: Generation of attosecond x-ray pulse attracts more and more attention within the advanced light source user community due to its potentially wide applications. Here we propose an all-optical scheme to generate bright, attosecond hard x-ray pulse trains by Thomson backscattering of similarly structured electron beams produced in a vacuum channel by a tightly focused laser pulse. Design parameters for a proof-of-concept experiment are presented and demonstrated by using a particle-in-cell code and a four-dimensional laser-Compton scattering simulation code to model both the laser-based electron acceleration and Thomson scattering processes. Trains of 200 attosecond duration hard x-ray pulses holding stable longitudinal spacing with photon energies approaching 50 keV and maximum achievable peak brightness up to 1020photons/s/mm2/mrad2/0.1%BW for each micro-bunch are observed. The suggested physical scheme for attosecond x-ray pulse trains generation may directly access the fastest time scales relevant to electron dynamics in atoms, molecules and materials.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Z C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Zhuo
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007834:Lasers; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation*; D058626:Plasma Gases; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases