Coherent transition radiation from attosecond electron pulses

Abstract

We show theoretically and by simulations how coherent transition radiation from tilted surfaces can be used for characterization of attosecond free-electron pulses such as used for pump-probe electron microscopy and diffraction. The tilted geometries eliminate velocity-mismatch and beam-diameter effects, providing sensitivity to attosecond times even for almost arbitrarily large beam diameters.