Undulator: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:55, 9 February 2025

A device used in synchrotron radiation facilities

Overview

Diagram of an undulator showing the periodic magnetic structure.

An undulator is a periodic structure of magnets used in synchrotron radiation facilities to produce highly collimated and intense beams of electromagnetic radiation. These devices are essential components in free-electron lasers and synchrotron light sources, where they are used to generate coherent light across a wide range of wavelengths, from infrared to X-rays.

Principle of Operation

Undulators work by forcing a beam of relativistic electrons to undergo a series of oscillations as they pass through a periodic magnetic field. This oscillatory motion causes the electrons to emit radiation at specific wavelengths, determined by the undulator equation. The emitted radiation is highly collimated and can be tuned by adjusting the magnetic field strength or the energy of the electron beam.

Types of Undulators

There are several types of undulators, including:

Planar undulators: These have a linear arrangement of magnets and produce linearly polarized light.
Helical undulators: These have a helical arrangement of magnets and can produce circularly polarized light.
Elliptical undulators: These can produce light with variable polarization states.

Applications

Undulators are used in a variety of scientific and industrial applications, including:

Advantages

Undulators offer several advantages over other types of radiation sources, such as:

High brightness and intensity
Tunable wavelength
Coherent radiation

Related pages

References

"Undulator." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undulator
"Synchrotron Radiation and Free-Electron Lasers." Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, vol. 25, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1-10.

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-Undulator
+{{short description|A device used in synchrotron radiation facilities}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-An undulator is a device used in particle accelerators and synchrotron radiation sources to generate intense beams of electromagnetic radiation. It consists of a series of alternating magnetic poles and gaps through which charged particles, such as electrons, are accelerated. The alternating magnetic field causes the particles to oscillate, resulting in the emission of synchrotron radiation.
+== Overview ==
-== History ==
+[[File:Undulator.png|thumb|right|Diagram of an undulator showing the periodic magnetic structure.]]
-The concept of the undulator was first proposed by Hans Motz and Albert W. Overhauser in 1945. However, it was not until the 1970s that practical undulators were developed and used in particle accelerators. Today, undulators are an essential component of many synchrotron radiation facilities around the world.
+An '''undulator''' is a periodic structure of magnets used in [[synchrotron radiation]] facilities to produce highly collimated and intense beams of [[electromagnetic radiation]]. These devices are essential components in [[free-electron lasers]] and [[synchrotron light sources]], where they are used to generate [[coherent light]] across a wide range of wavelengths, from [[infrared]] to [[X-rays]].
-== Operation ==
+== Principle of Operation ==
-Undulators work based on the principle of magnetic resonance. When charged particles pass through the alternating magnetic field of the undulator, they experience a force that causes them to oscillate. As a result, they emit synchrotron radiation, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation that covers a wide range of wavelengths, from X-rays to infrared.
+Undulators work by forcing a beam of [[relativistic]] [[electrons]] to undergo a series of oscillations as they pass through a periodic magnetic field. This oscillatory motion causes the electrons to emit radiation at specific wavelengths, determined by the [[undulator equation]]. The emitted radiation is highly collimated and can be tuned by adjusting the magnetic field strength or the energy of the electron beam.
+== Types of Undulators ==
+There are several types of undulators, including:
+* '''Planar undulators''': These have a linear arrangement of magnets and produce linearly polarized light.
+* '''Helical undulators''': These have a helical arrangement of magnets and can produce circularly polarized light.
+* '''Elliptical undulators''': These can produce light with variable polarization states.
 == Applications ==
-Undulators have a wide range of applications in various scientific fields. In particle accelerators, they are used to generate intense beams of synchrotron radiation for experiments in physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. Synchrotron radiation produced by undulators is also used in medical imaging, industrial inspection, and materials characterization.
+Undulators are used in a variety of scientific and industrial applications, including:
+* [[X-ray crystallography]]
+* [[Material science]]
+* [[Biological imaging]]
+* [[Medical imaging]]
 == Advantages ==
-One of the main advantages of undulators is their ability to produce highly collimated and tunable beams of synchrotron radiation. The intensity and energy of the radiation can be controlled by adjusting the strength and spacing of the magnetic poles. This flexibility allows researchers to tailor the radiation to their specific experimental needs.
+Undulators offer several advantages over other types of radiation sources, such as:
-== Limitations ==
+* High brightness and intensity
-While undulators offer many advantages, they also have some limitations. One limitation is the requirement for high-energy particle beams to generate synchrotron radiation. This means that undulators are typically used in large-scale facilities that house particle accelerators. Additionally, the production of synchrotron radiation requires a significant amount of energy, making it an expensive process.
+* Tunable wavelength
+* Coherent radiation
-== See also ==
+== Related pages ==
 * [[Synchrotron radiation]]
-* [[Particle accelerator]]
+* [[Free-electron laser]]
-* [[Synchrotron radiation facility]]
+* [[Magnetic field]]
 == References ==
-<references />
+* "Undulator." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undulator
+* "Synchrotron Radiation and Free-Electron Lasers." Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, vol. 25, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1-10.
-== External links ==
-* [https://example.com Example.com] - A website with more information on undulators.
+[[Category:Synchrotron radiation]]
 [[Category:Particle accelerators]]
-[[Category:Synchrotron radiation]]
-[[Category:Electromagnetic radiation]]
-[[Category:Scientific instruments]]