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Single-particle analysis of the free-electron laser sideband instability for primary electromagnetic wave with constant phase and slowly varying phase

Journal Article · · Phys. Fluids; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.866353· OSTI ID:6868165

Use is made of the single-particle orbit equations together with Maxwell's equations and appropriate statistical averages to investigate detailed properties of the sideband instability for a helical-wiggler free-electron laser with wiggler wavelength lambda/sub 0/ = 2..pi../k/sub 0/ = const and normalized wiggler amplitude a/sub w/ = eB-italic-circumflex/sub w//mc/sup 2/k/sub 0/ = const. The model describes the nonlinear evolution of a right-circularly polarized primary electromagnetic wave with frequency ..omega../sub s/, wavenumber k/sub s/, and slowly varying amplitude a-italic-circumflex/sub s/(z,t) and phase delta/sub s/(z,t) (eikonal approximation). The orbit and wave equations are analyzed in the ponderomotive frame (''primed'' variables) moving with velocity v/sub p/ = ..omega../sub s//(k/sub s/+k/sub 0/) relative to the laboratory. Detailed properties of the sideband instability are investigated for small-amplitude perturbations about a quasisteady equilibrium state characterized by a-italic-circumflex/sup 0//sub s/ = const (independent of z' and t'). Two cases are treated. The first case assumes constant equilibrium wave phase delta/sup 0//sub s/ = const, which requires (for self-consistency) both untrapped- and trapped-electron populations satisfying = 0.

Research Organization:
Science Applications International Corporation, Boulder, Colorado 80302
OSTI ID:
6868165
Journal Information:
Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 30:2; ISSN PFLDA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English