Influence of the electron beam emittance on the polarization of a laser--electron X-ray generator

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the polarization of the X-ray radiation coming from laser--electron X-ray generator (LEXG). We obtain general relations connecting the polarization state of outgoing X-ray radiation to the polarization state of laser beam as well as to the parameters of electron beam. We demonstrate that finite electron beam emittance causes a partial depolarization of initially fully polarized X-ray radiation even when the laser beam is fully polarized. We demonstrate with a number of numerical experiments that finite electron beam emittance can in some cases fundamentally alter the polarization state of X-ray radiation as compared to the polarization state of X-ray radiation scattered by electron beam with a zero emittance. Possible applications of polarized LEXG's radiation are discussed.