Electron beam evolution in a successive Compton backscattering

Abstract

Inverse Compton scattering (ICS) is a unique source of highly monochromatic x-ray and gamma radiation. We investigate theoretically the cumulative effects of repeated head-on interactions between the electron beam and a train of powerful laser pulses inside a linear accelerating structure placed between mirrors of an optical resonator. We find that the longitudinal momentum spread converges exponentially to an equilibrium value due to the competition between quantum excitation (heating) and radiation friction (cooling). The predictions of the developed theory coincide very well with computer simulations. Our work establishes the necessity to account for cumulative transverse beam dynamics in the design and optimization of future stable, high-brightness ICS sources.