Generation and Application of High-Power Radiation Sources 2025

A special issue of Particles (ISSN 2571-712X). This special issue belongs to the section "Experimental Physics and Instrumentation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2025) | Viewed by 3507

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The uses of high-power radiation have gained attention rapidly in recent years due to its essential interaction with materials of different types. Recent progress in the generation of high-power radiation is now opening new prospects in various fields, including material science, biophysics, medical sciences, and industrial applications.

High-peak power radiation is important in various applications, especially in ultra-fast beam technology, which can be used to study basic science and ultra-fast dynamics of atoms and molecules. Radiation sources producing stable pulses with sufficiently high power are crucial for ultra-fast spectroscopy or material processing. Accelerator-based radiation sources in the forms of free-electron lasers (FELs) and coherent synchrotron/transition radiations from ultra-short electron beams are promising sources for generating high-peak power radiation with frequency tunable possibility. Depending on the undulator's electron beam energy and magnetic structure, FELs can produce high peak power radiation in the X-ray/UV/MIR/THz region. The coherent synchrotron and transition radiations are typically used to produce the radiation in the THz regime. Tabletop intense THz sources based on the femtosecond laser and photoconductive antennas, non-linear crystals, optical rectification sources, plasma-based THz sources, topological insulators, spintronic materials, and metasurfaces are also interesting sources for compact setup.

Among the high-power radiation applications, some do not require high-peak power radiation. Instead, they need high average-power radiation. An important example of such a radiation source is the synchrotron light source, produced from a high-energy and high-current electron beam. Synchrotron radiation has high intensity, high photon flux, and a wide range of wavelengths (from infrared to hard X-ray) with well-understood spectrum intensity. Another advantage is having several beamlines with different radiation wavelengths for different applications.

Research and development of high-power radiation sources using various techniques have been conducted worldwide.  The utilization of high-power radiation is widely spread with great application numbers. This Special Issue is a collaboration between Particles and the "16th Eco-Energy and Materials Science and Engineering Symposium: Special session on "Generation and Application of High-power Radiation Sources”. It is an attempt to summarize the research in the relevant areas for both the symposium attendees and other interested researchers. Original contributions of experimental work, computational work, or combinations of the two, or review papers, are highly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Hideaki Ohgaki
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • high energy physics
  • high-power radiation sources
  • generation and application

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3040 KiB  
Article
Design and Development of Dipole Magnet for MIR/THz Free Electron Laser Beam Dumps and Spectrometers
by Ekkachai Kongmon, Kantaphon Damminsek, Nopadon Khangrang, Sakhorn Rimjaem and Chitrlada Thongbai
Particles 2025, 8(3), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/particles8030066 - 25 Jun 2025
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Abstract
This study presents the design and development of electromagnetic dipole magnets for use as beam dumps and spectrometers in the MIR and THz free-electron laser (FEL) beamlines at the PBP-CMU Electron Linac Laboratory (PCELL). The magnets were optimized to achieve a 60-degree bending [...] Read more.
This study presents the design and development of electromagnetic dipole magnets for use as beam dumps and spectrometers in the MIR and THz free-electron laser (FEL) beamlines at the PBP-CMU Electron Linac Laboratory (PCELL). The magnets were optimized to achieve a 60-degree bending angle for electron beams with energies up to 30 MeV, without requiring water cooling. Using CST EM Studio for 3D magnetic field simulations and ASTRA for particle tracking, the THz dipole (with 414 turns) and MIR dipole (with 600 turns) generated magnetic fields of 0.1739 T and 0.2588 T, respectively, while both operating at currents below 10 A. Performance analysis confirmed effective beam deflection, with the THz dipole showing that it was capable of handling beam energies up to 20 MeV and the MIR dipole could handle up to 30 MeV. The energy measurement at the spectrometer screen position was simulated, taking into account transverse beam size, fringe fields, and space charge effects, using ASTRA. The energy resolution, defined as the ratio of energy uncertainty to the mean energy, was evaluated for selected cases. For beam energies of 16 MeV and 25 MeV, resolutions of 0.2% and 0.5% were achieved with transverse beam sizes of 1 mm and 4 mm, respectively. All evaluated cases maintained energy resolutions below 1%, confirming the spectrometer’s suitability for high-precision beam diagnostics. Furthermore, the relationship between the initial and measured energy spread errors, taking into account a camera resolution of 0.1 mm/pixel, was evaluated. Simulations across various beam energies (10–16 MeV for the THz dipole and 20–25 MeV for the MIR dipole) confirmed that the measurement error in energy spread decreases with smaller RMS transverse beam sizes. This trend was consistent across all tested energies and magnet configurations. To ensure accurate energy spread measurements, a small initial beam size is recommended. Specifically, for beams with a narrow initial energy spread, a transverse beam size below 1 mm is essential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Generation and Application of High-Power Radiation Sources 2025)
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27 pages, 10012 KiB  
Article
Beam Emittance and Bunch Length Diagnostics for the MIR-FEL Beamline at Chiang Mai University
by Kittipong Techakaew, Kanlayaporn Kongmali, Siriwan Pakluea and Sakhorn Rimjaem
Particles 2025, 8(3), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/particles8030064 - 21 Jun 2025
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Abstract
The generation of high-quality mid-infrared free-electron laser (MIR-FEL) radiation depends critically on precise control of electron beam parameters, including energy, energy spread, transverse emittance, bunch charge, and bunch length. At the PBP-CMU Electron Linac Laboratory (PCELL), effective beam diagnostics are essential for optimizing [...] Read more.
The generation of high-quality mid-infrared free-electron laser (MIR-FEL) radiation depends critically on precise control of electron beam parameters, including energy, energy spread, transverse emittance, bunch charge, and bunch length. At the PBP-CMU Electron Linac Laboratory (PCELL), effective beam diagnostics are essential for optimizing FEL performance. However, dedicated systems for direct measurement of transverse emittance and bunch length at the undulator entrance have been lacking. This paper addresses this gap by presenting the design, simulation, and analysis of diagnostic stations for accurate characterization of these parameters. A two-quadrupole emittance measurement system was developed, enabling independent control of beam-focusing in both transverse planes. An analytical model was formulated specifically for this configuration to enhance emittance reconstruction accuracy. Systematic error analysis was conducted using ASTRA beam dynamics simulations, incorporating 3D field maps from CST Studio Suite and fully including space-charge effects. Results show that transverse emittance values as low as 0.15 mm·mrad can be measured with less than 20% error when the initial RMS beam size is under 2 mm. Additionally, quadrupole misalignment effects were quantified, showing that alignment within ±0.95 mm limits systematic errors to below 33.3%. For bunch length measurements, a transition radiation (TR) station coupled with a Michelson interferometer was designed. Spectral and interferometric simulations reveal that transverse beam size and beam splitter properties significantly affect measurement accuracy. A 6% error due to transverse size was identified, while Kapton beam splitters introduced additional systematic distortions. In contrast, a 6 mm-thick silicon beam splitter enabled accurate, correction-free measurements. The finite size of the radiator was also found to suppress low-frequency components, resulting in up to 10.6% underestimation of bunch length. This work provides a practical and comprehensive diagnostic framework that accounts for multiple error sources in both transverse emittance and bunch length measurements. These findings contribute valuable insight for the beam diagnostics community and support improved control of beam quality in MIR FEL systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Generation and Application of High-Power Radiation Sources 2025)
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8 pages, 576 KiB  
Article
Coherent Grating Transition Radiation of a Hollow Relativistic Electron Beam from a Flat 2D Photonic Crystal
by Daria Yu. Sergeeva and Alexey A. Tishchenko
Particles 2025, 8(2), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/particles8020062 - 12 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Hollow electron beams are a promising tool for generating coherent radiation in various frequency ranges. Hollow beams have unique properties, including increased stability and the ability to achieve high current densities without significant deterioration of beam quality. This paper presents the results of [...] Read more.
Hollow electron beams are a promising tool for generating coherent radiation in various frequency ranges. Hollow beams have unique properties, including increased stability and the ability to achieve high current densities without significant deterioration of beam quality. This paper presents the results of a theoretical study on coherent grating transition radiation arising during the interaction between a relativistic hollow electron beam and a flat two-dimensional photonic crystal. The radiation field is calculated using the dipole approximation. Theoretical analysis has shown that, under certain conditions, a high degree of radiation coherence can be achieved. The results open up new possibilities for the creation of new sources of coherent terahertz radiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Generation and Application of High-Power Radiation Sources 2025)
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19 pages, 6110 KiB  
Article
Localized Multilayer Shielding of an Electron Beam Irradiation Station for FLASH Radiotherapy Experiments
by Kanlayaporn Kongmali, Pittaya Apiwattanakul, Phanthip Jaikeaw and Sakhorn Rimjaem
Particles 2025, 8(2), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/particles8020051 - 1 May 2025
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Abstract
FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is a cancer treatment delivering high-dose radiation within microseconds, reducing side-effects on healthy tissues. Implementing this technology at the PBP-CMU Electron Linac Laboratory poses challenges in ensuring radiation safety within a partially underground hall with thin walls and ceiling structures. [...] Read more.
FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is a cancer treatment delivering high-dose radiation within microseconds, reducing side-effects on healthy tissues. Implementing this technology at the PBP-CMU Electron Linac Laboratory poses challenges in ensuring radiation safety within a partially underground hall with thin walls and ceiling structures. This study develops a localized shielding design for electron beams (6–25 MeV) using the GEANT4 release 11.2.2 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit. A multilayer system of lead, iron, polyethylene, and concrete effectively attenuates X-rays, gamma-rays, and neutrons, achieving dose levels below 1 mSv/year for public areas and within 20 mSv/year for controlled areas, meeting international standards. The B-factor analysis highlights efficient low-energy gamma attenuation and thicker shielding requirements for high-energy rays. The design minimizes radiation leakage, ensuring safe operation for FLASH-RT while safeguarding personnel and the environment. Future work includes constructing and validating the system, with methodologies applicable to other electron beam facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Generation and Application of High-Power Radiation Sources 2025)
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