Intense terahertz pulses from SLAC electron beams using coherent transition radiation

Authors

Ziran Wu, Stanford University
Alan S. Fisher, Stanford UniversityFollow
John Goodfellow, Stanford University
Matthias Fuchs, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Dan Daranciang, Stanford UniversityFollow
Mark Hogan, Stanford UniversityFollow
Henrik Loos, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryFollow
Aaron Lindenberg, Stanford UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

2013

Document Type

Article

Citation

Review of Scientific Instruments 84, 022701 (2013).

Comments

Copyright 2013 American Institute of Physics. Used by permission.

Abstract

SLAC has two electron accelerators, the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and the Facility for Advanced Accelerator Experimental Tests (FACET), providing high-charge, high peak-current, femtosecond electron bunches. These characteristics are ideal for generating intense broadband terahertz (THz) pulses via coherent transition radiation. For LCLS and FACET respectively, the THz pulse duration is typically 20 and 80 fs RMS and can be tuned via the electron bunch duration; emission spectra span 3-30 THz and 0.5 THz-5 THz; and the energy in a quasi-half-cycle THz pulse is 0.2 and 0.6 mJ. The peak electric field at a THz focus has reached 4.4 GV/m (0.44 V/Å) at LCLS. This paper presents measurements of the terahertz pulses and preliminary observations of nonlinear materials response.