Intense microwave generation using free-electron lasers

Conference · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6214813

Orzechowski, T J

In this paper, I will describe a free-electron laser amplifier which operated in the microwave regime. This device, called the Electron Laser Facility (ELF), used an electron beam generated by a Linear Induction Accelerator (LIA). ELF operated as a single pass amplifier at 35 and 140 GHz. Because the device had no cavity, we could study the FEL physics independent of cavity considerations. With a sufficiently large input signal, growth of the signal from noise on the beam did not influence the performance. This device demonstrated significant gain and allowed us to investigate such FEL phenomenon as saturation and synchrotron oscillation of the electrons trapped in the ponderomotive well. We were also able to study the phase shift of the radiation due to the real part of complex gain of the FEL. Because the interaction takes place in a waveguide, the FEL can couple to several spatial modes at a given frequency. The bunched electrons can radiate at harmonics of the fundamental and in this experiment we studied the evolution of the third harmonic. In this paper, I will describe the Electron Laser Facility. I will discuss the FEL performance with regard to gain, saturation, phase evolution, mode coupling and harmonic generation, I will briefly discuss a switching technique which allows the LIA to run at high average power. When driven by such a device, and FEL can produce high average power radiation. We will present the design for such a device which can be used to heat a tokamak plasma. This device is designed to operate at 250 GHz and produce an average power of 2 MW.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOD
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6214813
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-104640; CONF-9009118--2; ON: DE91007262; CNN: W31RPD-0-D4074
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002 -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700205* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Fuel
Heating
& Injection Systems
ACCELERATORS
BEAMS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETS
ELECTRON BEAMS
EQUIPMENT
FREE ELECTRON LASERS
HEATING
LASERS
LEPTON BEAMS
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MAGNETS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PARTICLE BEAMS
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA HEATING
RADIATIONS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
WAVEGUIDES
WIGGLER MAGNETS