Phase Space Distortions Arising from Magnetic Pulse Compression of High Brightness Electron Beams

We report detailed measurements of the transverse phase space distortions induced by magnetic chicane compression of a high brightness, relativistic electron beam to sub-ps length. A strong bifurcation in the phase space is observed when the beam is strongly compressed. This effect is analyzed using several computational models, and is correlated to the folding of longitudinal phase space. The impact of these results on current research in collective beam effects in bending systems, and implications for future short wavelength free-electron lasers and linear colliders are discussed.