A Three Dimensional Analysis of Spontaneous and Stimulated Smith-Purcell Radiation in the X-ray Regime

The Smith-Purcell (S-P) radiation is examined as a possible source of coherent and incoherent radiation in the x-ray regime. The physical mechanism and radiation pattern is quite similar to that of coherent transition radiation(1). However, since in the S-P radiation the electrons are traversing outside the material (above the grating), coherent interference of radiation from a large number of grating rulings and stimulated emission are more likely to be realized.