Laser synchrotron source (LSS)

A method for generating x-rays, comprising the steps of:

• generating subpicosecond laser pulses with a high peak power laser operating in a 1`10 TW power range;
• injecting the laser pulses into a ring resonator in a first direction thereby forming a continuous loop;
• generating an electron beam in a linear accelerator moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction of the laser pulse;
• and
• focusing the laser pulses upon a point within an interaction chamber where the laser pulses and the electron beam interact by Thomson scattering so as to produce hard x-rays.

A method for generating hard x-rays, comprising the steps of:

• generating laser pulses having short length and high average circulating power of approximately 5 kW;
• injecting the laser pulses into a ring resonator in a first direction thereby forming a continuous loop;
• generating in a betatron an electron beam moving in a second direction opposite to the direction of the laser pulses;
• and
• focusing the laser pulses on a point within the betatron so as to intersect the electron beam tangentially thereby causing hard x-rays to be produced via Thomson scattering.

A device for generating hard x-rays comprised of:

• means for generating a short, tunable laser pulse;
• means for confining and recirculating the laser pulse in a predetermined direction;
• means for generating an electron beam circulating in a predetermined direction, opposite to the direction of movement of the laser pulse;
• and
• means for generating hard x-rays by Thomson scattering of the laser pulse and the electron beam moving in an opposite direction to the laser pulse.

A method for generating hard x-rays, comprising the steps of:

• generating a laser beam having a high peak power of subpicosecond duration so as to form a pulsed laser beam
• directing the pulsed laser beam in a first direction in a continuous loop in a ring resonator;
• generating an electron beam in a linear accelerator, said beam being directed in a second direction opposite to the direction of the pulsed laser beam;
• and
• focusing the pulsed laser beam upon a point within an interaction chamber where the laser beam and the electron beam interact at a predetermined intersection angle thereby producing hard x-rays pulses of a predetermined energy level by the Thomson scattering of the laser beam by the electron beam.

A method for generating hard x-rays, comprising the steps of:

• generating a laser beam having high average power and short pulse length;
• injecting the laser beam in a first direction in a continuous loop in a ring resonator;
• generating in a betatron an electron beam moving in a second direction opposite to the direction of the laser beam;
• and
• focusing the laser beam on a point within the betatron thereby causing the laser beam and the electron beam to interact within said betatron so as to produce hard x-ray pulses by Thomson scattering of the laser beam by the electron beam.

A method for increasing x-ray energy, comprising the steps of:

• generating laser pulses with a high peak power laser;
• injecting the laser pulses into a ring resonator in a first direction;
• generating free electrons composed of electrons within a relativistic electron beam in a linear accelerator, said electrons moving in a second direction opposite to the direction of the laser pulse;
• and
• focusing the laser pulses within an interaction chamber so as to achieve ultrahigh intensity where the laser pulses and the electron beam interact within the interaction chamber via nonlinear Thomson scattering to produce hard x-rays.