Attosecond electron bunch measurement with coherent nonlinear Thomson scattering

Abstract

We present a novel method for measurement of ultrashort electron-bunch duration, in principle, as short as zeptosecond (10^{−21} s). The method employs nonlinear Thomson scattering of relativistically intense laser light, and takes advantage of the nonlinear dependence and coherence of scattered light on electron bunch length. We validate the method and test its range of applicability via simulations by using realistic (nonideal) electron beams. Due to the wide flexibility in choice of interaction geometry and scattering laser pulse properties enabled by the method, it is shown to be applicable over a wide range of electron beam parameters, including energy, energy spread, and divergence angle.