The Effects of Wiggler Errors on Free Electron Laser Performance

Abstract

The effects of random wiggler magnetic field errors on free electron lasers is analyzed analytically and computationally. Wiggler field errors perturb the electron beam as it propagates and lead to a random walk of the beam centroid delta x as well as cause deviations in the parallel beam energy delta gamma parallel and in the relative phase of the electrons in the ponderomotive wave delta psi. The phase deviation delta psi is identified as the single most important parameter characterizing the detrimental effects of wiggler errors. In order to avoid significant reduction in gain it is necessary for the phase deviation to be small compared to pi. It is shown that transverse focusing of the electron beam is not effective in reducing the phase deviation (i.e., transverse focusing reduces the average phase deviation by 1/2). Furthermore, it is shown that the results of beam steering at the wiggler entrance reduces the average phase deviation at the end of the wiggler by 1/3. The detrimental effects of wiggler errors may be reduced by arranging the magnet poles in an optimal ordering such that the magnitude of the phase deviation is minimized. Keywords: Free electron lasers; Random field errors.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 02, 1990
Accession Number
ADA220421

Entities

People

  • Chai AMei Tang
  • Eric H. Esarey
  • W. Marable

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Beam Steering
  • Classification
  • Electron Beams
  • Electrons
  • Free Electron Lasers
  • Free Electrons
  • High Gain
  • Lasers
  • Linear Accelerators
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Military Research
  • Radiation
  • Random Walk
  • Security
  • Standards
  • Steering
  • Transverse

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics