A simplified approach to synchrotron radiation

Synchrotron radiation is examined in a simple and pedagogical way. The approach is that of Feynman and provides an intuitive, but rigorous graphical interpretation of the distinction between true and apparent relativistic electron motion. Feynman's demonstration that the apparent motion in the field of a bending magnet follows a curtate cycloid is augmented by a novel derivation of the emission spectrum. A similar graphical analysis is applied to insertion device radiation, to highlight the distinction between a wiggler and an undulator. (C) 2011 American Association of Physics Teachers. [DOI: 10.1119/1.3614033]