Laser-Compton scattering as a potential electron beam monitor

LCS experiments were carried out at the Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC); sharp monochromatic x-ray lines were observed. These are produced using the so-called inverse Compton effect, whereby optical laser photons are collided with a relativistic electron beam. The back-scattered photons are then kinematically boosted to keV x-ray energies. We have first demonstrated these beams using a 20 MeV electron beam collided with a 100 MW, 7 ns Nd:YAG laser. We observed narrow LCS x-ray spectral peaks resulting from the interaction of the electron beam with the Nd:YAG laser second harmonic (532 nm). The LCS x-ray energy lines and energy deviations were measured as a function of the electron beam energy and energy-spread respectively. The results showed good agreement with the predicted values. LCS could provide an excellent probe of electron beam energy, energy spread, transverse and longitudinal distribution and direction