Simulations on a potential hybrid and compact attosecond X-ray source based on RF and THz technologies

Abstract We investigate through beam dynamics simulations the potential of a hybrid layout mixing RF and THz technologies to be a compact X-ray source based on Inverse Compton Scattering (ICS), delivering few femtoseconds to sub-femtosecond pulses. The layout consists of an S-band gun as electron source and a dielectric-loaded circular waveguide driven by a multicycle THz pulse to accelerate and longitudinally compress the bunch, which will then be used to produce X-ray pulses via ICS with an infrared laser pulse. The beam dynamics simulations we performed, from the photocathode up to the ICS point, allows to have an insight in several important physical effects for the proposed scheme and also in the influence on the achievable bunch properties of various parameters of the accelerating and transverse focusing devices. The study presented in this paper leads to a preliminary layout and set of parameters able to deliver at the ICS point, according to our simulations, ultrashort bunches ( ≈ 1 fs rms), at 15 MeV, with ≥ 1 pC charge and transversely focused down to ≈ 10 μ m rms while keeping a compact beamline ( ≤ 1.5 m), which has not yet been achieved using only conventional RF technologies. Future studies will be devoted to the investigation of several potential ways to improve the achieved bunch properties, to overcome the limitations identified in the current study and to the definition of the technical requirements. This will lead to an updated layout and set of parameters.