Work

Active plasma lens based beamline for chromaticity-tolerant compact free-electron lasers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: As laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) progresses, the prospect of compact free-electron lasers (FELs) in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) becomes increasingly feasible. Despite successful demonstrations of coherent FEL sources driven by LWFA, achieving stable high-gain FEL output remains a significant challenge due to insufficient electron stability. In this study, we have designed a beam transport system using an active plasma lens (APL) for LWFA-driven FEL in the EUV regime. Through start-to-end simulations, we achieved a radiation energy of 7.2 μ J and a peak power of 3.2 GW at 13.5 nm. Moreover, the output remained above 1 μ J even with a bunch energy jitter of −7% to +9%, greatly enhancing the chromaticity tolerance of a future compact FEL source. We further investigated the forces experienced by electrons within the APL and the emittance evolution, and provided the FEL radiation gain process of the APL-based beamline. This APL-based beamline scheme is expected to significantly improve the performance of LWFA-driven FELs, and will enable prospects for widespread applications.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.574092

Authors: Zixiao Guo, Ke Feng, Hai Jiang, Wentao Wang, Ruxin Li

Language: English

Topic: Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader