Compact, all-optical generation of coherent X-rays
US9370085B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 14, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S4/00
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for generating coherent, polarized, and tunable X-rays using a single laser pulse is provided. An ultrashort laser pulse is fired into a plasma. As the laser beam travels through the plasma, some of its photons are backscattered, e.g., through Raman backscattering, to generate a counter-propagating photon beam that is co-linear with the original laser beam. When the backscattered photons interact with high-energy accelerated periodic electron bunches, coherent X-rays are generated through Compton backscattering of the photons off of the electrons. The energy of the backscattered X-rays can be tuned by tuning one or more characteristics of the laser pulse and/or the plasma.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.