Emerging technologies for crystal-based gamma-ray light sources

Introduction

The TECHNO-CLS project focuses on breakthroughs in technologies needed for designing and practical realization of novel gamma-ray Light Sources (LS) operating at photon energies from ~100 keV up to the GeV range. These sources can be constructed through exposure of oriented crystals (linear, bent, and periodically bent) to beams of ultrarelativistic charged particles.

Research Objectives

The TECHNO-CLS high-risk/high-gain science-towards-technology breakthrough research program will address the physics of the processes accompanying the oriented crystal exposure to irradiation by high-energy electron and positron beams. This will be done at the atomistic level of detail needed for the realization of the TECHNO-CLS goals.

Collaboration Background

A broad interdisciplinary, international collaboration has been established previously within the framework of FP7 and H2020 projects. These projects performed initial experimental tests to demonstrate the crystalline undulator (CU) idea, production and characterization of periodically bent crystals, and the related theory.

Aims of TECHNO-CLS

TECHNO-CLS aims to build on these successful studies to create a high-risk/high-gain science-towards-technology breakthrough research program. The goal is to achieve practical realization of novel gamma-ray LSs, such as:

1. Crystalline undulators (CUs)
2. Crystalline synchrotron radiation emitters
3. Other innovative light sources

Potential of CU LS

Additionally, by means of a pre-bunched beam, a CU LS has the potential to generate coherent superradiant radiation with wavelengths orders of magnitude less than 1 Angstrom. This wavelength range cannot be reached in existing LSs based on magnetic undulators.

Applications

Such LSs will have numerous applications in basic sciences, including:

• Nuclear physics
• Solid-state physics
• Life sciences

Expected Outcomes

Theoretical, computational, experimental, and technological results obtained during this project will pave the way for key technological developments of the LSs and their wide exploitation.

Expertise of the Collaboration

The TECHNO-CLS international collaboration possesses all the necessary expertise to successfully conduct the outlined program.