A muon source based on planar channelling radiation

TL;DR

This paper explores using planar channelling radiation from high-energy electrons in crystals to generate intense, low-emittance muon beams, analyzing optimal conditions and potential performance.

Contribution

It introduces a novel muon source concept based on crystal channelling radiation and provides analytical estimates of optimal beam parameters.

Findings

Optimal electron beam energy and divergence identified

Source performance comparable to existing muon sources

Feasibility within current beam technology capabilities

Abstract

The usage of channelling radiation arising from a high energy electron beam traversing a crystal for the production of an intense low emittance muon beam is investigated. The optimal energy and divergence of the electron beam are computed for few crystal types based on analytical expressions of the radiation spectrum and of the muon pair production cross section. It is shown that the required beam properties seem within reach and that the source performance may be comparable to other muon sources currently considered.