Attosecond Compression of Relativistic Electron Pulses via Continuous Harmonic Undulator Resonance

arXiv:2605.31083v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Extending megaelectronvolt ultrafast electron diffraction (MeV UED) into the attosecond regime is essential for resolving intrinsic structural dynamics, yet requires simultaneously controlling electron-pulse duration and arrival-time stability. Here, we propose a generalized harmonic laser-electron interaction that extends beam modulation into a continuous harmonic regime. We demonstrate that highly detuned, non-integer harmonic modulation via a single-period undulator achieves stronger coupling efficiency than conventional integer-harmonic resonance. Driven by a mid-infrared seed laser whose wavelength is a small fraction of the nominal resonant wavelength, this mechanism enables effective longitudinal phase space manipulation. It facilitates attosecond compression with minimal laser-induced energy spread, preserving the beam quality required for high-fidelity diffraction. Furthermore, deriving both the modulation and experimental pump lasers from a common source intrinsically locks their relative timing. Simulations demonstrate 680-as pulse durations and 470-as arrival-time jitter, establishing a viable route to attosecond MeV UED for resolving coupled electron-nuclear dynamics.