Generation of intense x-rays and low-emittance electron beams in a laser-electron storage ring

Radiation damping and quantum excitation in an electron storage ring with a laser-electron interaction region are analyzed. Two interesting regimes and their perspectives to the generation of intense x-rays and low-emittance electron beams are investigated. In the first regime, a high-average-power laser beam inside a high-finesse resonator intersects with the electron beam every pass to produce very intense, hard x-rays. Although the transverse laser cooling effect is still weak compared with the normal synchrotron radiation damping, the increased energy spread induced by the Compton scattering stabilizes the electron beam against intrabeam scattering in a compact, low-energy ring. In the second regime, a high-peak-power laser pulse confined in the optical resonator is proposed to cool the electron beam transversely for the generation of low-emittance electron beams. The authors consider some basic optical system and storage ring requirements and discuss potential demonstration experiments at the existing accelerator facilities