Single spike operation in SPARC SASE-FEL

We describe in this paper a possible experiment with the existing SPARC photoinjector to test the generation of sub-picosecond high brightness electron bunches able to produce single spike radiation pulses at 500 nm in the SPARC self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser (SASE-FEL). The main purpose of the experiment will be the production of short electron bunches as long as few SASE cooperation lengths and to validate scaling laws to foresee operation at shorter wavelength in the future operation with SPARK The basic physics, the experimental parameters and 3D simulations are discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.