Abstract: A system for generating tunable pulsed monochromatic X-rays includes a tabletop laser emitting a light beam that is counter-propagated against an electron beam produced by a linear accelerator. X-ray photon pulses are generated by inverse Compton scattering that occurs as a consequence of the “collision” that occurs between the electron beam and IR photons generated by the laser. The system uses a novel pulse structure comprising, for example, a single micropulse. In this way, pulses of very short X-rays are generated that are controllable on an individual basis with respect to their frequency, energy level, “direction,” and duration.

Abstract: A system for generating tunable pulsed monochromatic X-rays includes a tabletop laser emitting a light beam that is counter-propagated against an electron beam produced by a linear accelerator. X-ray photon pulses are generated by inverse Compton scattering that occurs as a consequence of the “collision” that occurs between the electron beam and IR photons generated by the laser. The system uses a novel pulse structure comprising, for example, a single micropulse. In this way, pulses of very short X-rays are generated that are controllable on an individual basis with respect to their frequency, energy level, “direction,” and duration.

Abstract: A system for generating tunable pulsed monochromatic X-rays comprises a tabletop terawatt laser delivering 10 Joules of energy in 10 ps at a wavelength of 1.1 microns. The light beam from the laser is counter-propagated against an electron beam produced by a linear accelerator. X-ray photons are generated by inverse Compton scattering that occurs as a consequence of the “collision” that occurs between the electron beam and IR photons generated by the laser. The system uses a novel pulse structure comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a single micropulse. The LINAC is configured to generate an electron beam having 1 nanocoulomb of charge in a microbunch having a pulse length of about 5 picoseconds or less (or an electron beam brightness of 1012 A/m2−radian2@ 500 A).