Free Electron Laser Instability for a Relativistic Solid Electron Beam in a Helical Wiggler Field

Abstract

The free electron laser instability for a solid relativistic electron beam propagating in combined transverse helical wiggler and uniform axial guide fields is investigated within the framework of the linearized Vlasov-Maxwell equations. Stability properties are investigated for the choice of equalibrium distribution function in which all electrons have the same value of the linear combination of transverse and helical invariants. The instability growth rate is calculated including a determination of the optimum value of the ratio of beam radius to conducting wall radius for maximum growth. It is found that the maximum growth rate for a solid electron beam is comparable to that for a hollow beam with similar parameters. Moreover, the introduction of a small axial momentum spread significantly reduces the instability growth rate.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA103523

Entities

People

  • Han S. Uhm
  • Ronald C. Davidson

Organizations

  • Naval Ordnance Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bessel Functions
  • Dispersion Relations
  • Distribution Functions
  • Electron Beams
  • Electron Density
  • Electron Energy
  • Electrons
  • Equations
  • Free Electron Lasers
  • Free Electrons
  • Instability
  • Laser Applications
  • Lasers
  • Momentum
  • Numerical Analysis
  • Perturbations
  • Transverse

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics