CERN Accelerating science

Article
Title	Compact, Ultra-Bright Coherent Transition Radiation Terahertz Source
Author(s)	Luiten, O J ; Van der Wiel, M J
Affiliation	(TUE, Eindhoven)
Publication	2005
In:	27th International Conference on Free Electron Lasers, Palo Alto, CA, USA, 21 - 26 Aug 2005, pp.e-proc. TUPP052
Subject category	Accelerators and Storage Rings
Abstract	We are developing a compact terahertz source based on the coherent emission of transition radiation by ultra-short electron bunches (typically 100 pC in 100 fs) of moderate energy (typically 5 MeV) passing through a foil. Such electron bunches can be realized by velocity bunching of uniform ellipsoidal "waterbag" electron bunches, which can be created by photoemission with properly shaped femtosecond laser pulses [1]. Calculations indicate that a significant part of the kinetic energy of the bunch is converted into a huge coherent burst of terahertz radiation.