Smart*Light develops a new compact X-ray source that delivers very bright X-ray pulses. This ‘tabletop synchrotron’ is based on inverse Compton scattering where highly energetic bunches of electrons are collided with a laser pulse. In this collision X-rays are produced that are very directional and monochromatic. Qualities that are important for advanced imaging techniques. By changing the energy of the electrons, the wavelength of the X-rays can be adjusted, which allows Smart*Light to be utilized for many types of experiments.

During this PhD, I will focus on the realization of a new technique, called ‘ponderomotive bunching’, that is able to reshape the electron bunch into many smaller bunches. This reshaping allows for the production of coherent X-rays and amplifies the X-ray pulses by several orders of magnitude.