Study of Optical Frequency Chirping and Pulse Compression in a High-Gain Energy-Recovery-Linac-Based Free-Electron Laser

Conference · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2010

OSTI ID:1999353

Zhang, Shukui ^[1]; Benson, Stephen ^[1]; Douglas, David ^[1]; Neil, George ^[1]; Shinn, Michelle ^[1]

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1. Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States)

In this paper we report a direct experimental investigation of optical frequency chirping effects induced by ultrashort electron bunches in a high-gain energy-recovery-linac (ERL) free-electron laser (FEL) cavity. Our measurement and analysis shows clear evolution of the optical pulse chirp verses the electron bunch energy chirp. Further study also provides important evidence that under certain conditions much shorter FEL pulses can be obtained through properly chirping electron bunches and optical pulse compression. Although studies about the chirp measurement on Self-amplified-spontaneous-emission (SASE) FEL were reported recently, we believe this paper for the first time provides a comprehensive and close observation into the very unique temporal and spectral characteristics of ultrashort optical pulses from a high-gain ERL FEL. This is made possible by the stable operation and unique capability of the Jefferson Lab machine to change the electron bunch energy chirp with no curvature. Preliminary simulations will also be presented.

• Research Organization: Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, VA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-06OR23177
• OSTI ID: 1999353
• Report Number(s): JLAB-FEL-09-970; DOE/OR/23177-3768
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English