First demonstration of coherent resonant backward diffraction radiation for a quasi-monochromatic terahertz-light source

Abstract

We proposed coherent resonant backward diffraction radiation (CRBDR), which generates wavelength-tunable quasi-monochromatic lights using a compact diffractor assembly in an accelerator facility of high-energy electron beams, as a unique intense terahertz (THz) light source. Superimposing the coherent backward diffracted radiation emitted by periodically arranged hollow diffractors, it is possible to amplify the frequency components satisfying a resonant condition, and make the radiation monochromatic. We demonstrated the CRBDR using the L-band linac at the Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science at Kyoto University. It was observed that the coherent backward diffraction radiation was amplified more than three times at a frequency which was the fundamental resonant frequency in the CRBDR theory. Moreover, the number of diffractors at the saturation of the radiation power was consistent with the number estimated from the electron distribution in a bunch. The experimental results show that the CRBDR is useful as a quasi-monochromatic light source in the THz band.