Design concepts for a table-top, bright X-Ray source based on nonlinear Thomson backscattering

Recent progress in laser-plasma accelerators has led to improved stability in energy and pointing of laser-driven electron beams. Utilizing these electrons and high power laser systems it is feasible to produce bright X-Ray sources by Thomson backscattering. Such a pulsed light source promises to deliver >106 photons, in a pulse duration of <10 fs in the 50-100 keV energy range. These unique properties are desirable for ultrashort time-resolved X-Ray spectroscopy and medical application. We present the expected X-Ray source parameters, applying analytical theory. Improvements of the monochromacity by using a temporal shaped laser pulse could result in peak brilliances exceeding the ones of large scale synchrotron radiation sources of 1023 (photons/sec./mrad2/mm2/0.1% bandw.) Possible implementations are discussed and a first concept of an all-optical setup is presented.