Design of a Compact, Optically Guided, Pinched, Megawatt Class Free-Electron Laser
Abstract
A conceptual design for a compact megawatt class FEL operating within atmospheric transmission windows is presented. The proposed FEL consists of an optically guided, pinched amplifier configuration driven by an RF linac. The gain length, efficiency, electron pulse slippage and the distance between the wiggler and first relay mirror are determined for a megawatt class design. Of particular concern in the design is the overall length of the optical system, i.e., wiggler length and distance to the first relay mirror. In the present design the wiggler length is -2 meters and the distance between the first relay mirror and the wiggler is determined by the average intensity damage threshold on the mirror. By focusing the electron beam, the optical beam can be pinched upon exiting the wiggler. The pinched optical beam has a reduced Rayleigh length which permits the first relay mirror to be relatively close to the wiggler. By pinching the optical beam and employing grazing incidence the first relay mirror can be located with -3 meters of the wiggler. It is shown that frequency detuning can more than double the FEL efficiency. In addition, electron pulse slippage is shown to be substantially reduced in a high-gain amplifier.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 08, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA471877
Entities
People
- Bahman Hafizi
- Joseph R. Peñano
- Phillip A. Sprangle
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory