Steady-state micro-bunching accelerator light source

Abstract

Based on the laser manipulation of electron beam, the steady-state micro-bunching (SSMB) mechanism promises an electron bunch length six orders of magnitude smaller than that in a conventional storage ring. With the combination of the strong coherent characteristic of the radiation from micro-bunching and the high repetition rate of a storage ring, high-average-power, narrow-band coherent radiation with wavelengths ranging from THz to soft X-ray can be expected from an SSMB ring. Such a novel light source can provide unprecedented opportunities for accelerator photon science and industry applications like extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. In this paper, the SSMB concept and its potential, the progress of SSMB proof-of-principle experiment, the key physics issues and technical challenges of an SSMB ring, the Tsinghua SSMB-EUV light source and its potential revolutionary influence on scientific research and EUV lithography are all reviewed. Some important results of the SSMB research achieved by us are also presented.