Coherent synchrotron radiation in storage rings as a broadband high power terahertz source

Coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) is a fascinating phenomenon recently observed in electron storage rings and shows promise as a broadband source of terahertz radiation with average powers at the kilowatt levels. The ring source of CSR also has several other unique characteristics such as high repetition rate, stability, synchronization with X-rays, and shaping of the electric field pulse. However, because of the properties of the radiation and the electron beams needed to produce it, there are a number of interesting features of the storage ring that can be optimized for CSR.