Wiggler And Undulator

Both wigglers and undulators are based on the interaction between relativistic electrons (traveling near the speed of light) and a periodic magnetic field. As the electrons pass through the alternating magnetic fields, they emit synchrotron radiation. Wigglers and undulators are indispensable tools in synchrotron facilities, enabling groundbreaking research across multiple disciplines, and their ability to produce intense, tunable radiation makes them essential for advancing science and technology.

Wiggler VS Undulator

A wiggler consists of a series of alternating magnetic poles (e.g., permanent magnets or electromagnets) arranged in a straight line. The magnetic field strength is relatively high, causing significant lateral deflection of the electron beam.

As the electrons pass through the magnetic field, they are deflected back and forth in a sinusoidal path, and the deflection angle is large, resulting in a wide range of emission directions. The radiation is incoherent because the emission from different parts of the electron path does not interfere constructively. The spectrum is broad, covering a wide range of wavelengths (from infrared to hard X-rays). The intensity is high, but the beam is less focused compared to an undulator. It is normally applied for broad-spectrum X-ray production for applications like X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy.

An undulator also uses alternating magnetic poles, but the magnetic field strength is weaker compared to a wiggler.

The number of magnetic periods is much higher (typically 100–1000), resulting in more oscillations per unit length. The electrons oscillate gently in the magnetic field, with a small deflection angle, and the oscillations are nearly in phase, allowing the radiation emitted from different parts of the path to interfere constructively. The radiation is coherent due to constructive interference, resulting in a narrow spectrum concentrated at specific wavelengths. The beam is highly focused and has extremely high brightness. The wavelength of the emitted radiation can be tuned by adjusting the magnetic field strength or the electron energy. It is used for high-resolution experiments like protein crystallography, nano-imaging, and spectroscopy.

Certain hybrid experiments may require both broad-spectrum and narrow-spectrum radiation at different stages. For example, a wiggler might be used for initial screening or broad-range measurements while an undulator might be used for detailed, high-resolution analysis. Below is the key summary of their differences.

Differences Between Wigglers and Undulators

Project Photo

Model Nr. FAB1000-205

Model Nr. FAB3500-35

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