Laser-plasma accelerator based single-cycle attosecond undulator source

TL;DR

This paper proposes a compact laser-plasma accelerator-based system capable of generating stable, waveform-engineered attosecond pulses in the extreme ultraviolet range, enabling advanced ultrafast electron dynamics studies.

Contribution

It introduces a complete FEL-based system combining LPAs and undulators to produce stable, single-cycle attosecond pulses with engineered waveforms, a novel approach in ultrafast science.

Findings

Predicted pulses with up to 60 nJ energy and 90-400 attosecond duration.

Wavelength range of 30 to 120 nm.

Potential applications in ultrafast electron dynamics research.

Abstract

Laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs), producing high-quality electron beams, provide an opportunity to reduce the size of free-electron lasers (FELs) to only a few meters. A complete system is proposed here, which is based on FEL technology and consists of an LPA, two undulators, and other magnetic devices. The system is capable to generate carrier-envelope phase stable attosecond pulses with engineered waveform. Pulses with up to~60~nJ energy and 90 to~400~attosecond duration in the 30 to 120~nm wavelength range are predicted by numerical simulation. These pulses can be used to investigate ultrafast field-driven electron dynamics in matter.