Ultra-bright X-rays using Plasma Wigglers

Fourth generation light sources have advanced many fields of the natural sciences by providing extraordinary reductions in X-ray pulse lengths and increases in brightness. In this paper, we will present a novel numerical study, showing that existing third generation synchrotron light sources can produce X-ray pulses with equally unique properties, by undulating their electron beams within plasma wakefields. We have conducted a full scale two dimensional particle-in-cell study that shows that by micro-bunching a realistic electron beam longitudinally generates an X-ray pulse of comparable brightness to fourth generation free electron laser sources is possible. The production mechanism ensures the pulses are radially polarized on creation. We also demonstrate that the micro-bunched electron beam is also an effective wakefield driver, one that provides in itself another potential new cost-effective route to a reliable intense X-ray source.