FEMTOSECOND X-RAY PULSES OF SYNCHROTRON-RADIATION

A method capable of producing femtosecond pulses of synchrotron radiat ion is proposed. It is based on the interaction of femtosecond light p ulses with electrons in a storage ring. The application of the method to the generation of ultrashort x-ray pulses at the Advanced Light Sou rce of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has been considered. The same method can also be used for extraction of electrons from a storag e ring in ultrashort series of microbunches spaced by the periodicity of light wavelength.