Self-consistent kinetic description of the free electron laser instability in a planar magnetic wiggler

Technical Report · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5615888

Davidson, R C; Wurtele, J S

The linearized Vlasov-Maxwell equations are used to investigate detailed free electron laser (FEL) stability properties for a tenuous relativistic electron beam propagating in the z-direction through the planar wiggler magnetic field. The theoretical model neglects longitudinal perturbations and transverse spatial variations. For low or moderate electron energy, there can be a sizeable modulation of beam equilibrium properties by the wiggler field and a concomitant coupling of the k'th Fourier component of the wave to the components k +- 2k/sub 0/, k +- 4k/sub 0/,... in the matrix dispersion equation. In the diagonal approximation, investigations of detailed stability behavior range from the regime of strong instability (monoenergetic electrons) to weak resonant growth (sufficiently large energy spread). In the limit of ultrarelativistic electrons and very low beam density, the kinetic dispersion relation is compared with the dispersion relation obtained from a linear analysis of the conventional Compton-regime FEL equations. Finally, assuming ultrarelativistic electrons and a sufficiently broad spectrum of amplifying waves, the quasilinear kinetic equations appropriate to the planar wiggler configuration are presented.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Plasma Fusion Center
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-78ET51013
• OSTI ID: 5615888
• Report Number(s): MIT/PFC/JA-85-17; ON: DE85014139
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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BEAMS
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
COUPLING
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRON BEAMS
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
FREE ELECTRON LASERS
INSTABILITY
LASERS
LEPTON BEAMS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY