Higher-Order Modes in Free Electron Lasers

Abstract

Free electron laser theory is developed from the Maxwell and Lorentz force equations; the properties and characteristics of the laser are reviewed. The wave equation is solved for the fundamental Gaussian mode, and higher-order modes in Cartesian and cylindrical coordinate spaces, yielding expressions for the complete and orthogonal basis sets of Hermite- and Laguerre- Gaussian beams. Motivated by the evident inclusion of higher-order modes in free electron laser simulations, a tool is developed for the higher-order (in particular Laguerre-Gaussian) modal analysis of simulated free electron laser beams.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA439502

Entities

People

  • B. W. Williams

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplifiers
  • Differential Equations
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Electrons
  • Equations
  • Free Electron Lasers
  • Free Electrons
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Resonators
  • Lasers
  • Light Sources
  • Optical Lattices
  • Optomechanics
  • Partial Differential Equations
  • Quantum Yields
  • Radiation
  • Wave Equations

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics
  • Space