Imaging electron trajectories in a laser-wakefield cavity using betatron X-ray radiation

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 Dec 1;97(22):225002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.225002. Epub 2006 Nov 30.

Abstract

We demonstrate that betatron x-ray radiation accurately provides direct imaging of electrons trajectories accelerated in laser wakefields. Experimental far field x-ray beam profiles reveal that electrons can follow similar transverse trajectories with typical excursions of 1.5 microm+/-0.5 microm in the plane of laser polarization and 0.7 microm+/-0.2 microm in the plane perpendicular.