Quantum kinetic theory of free-electron lasers in external fields of arbitrary amplitude

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Sov. J. Quant. Electron. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1070/QE1983v013n11ABEH004958· OSTI ID:6941667

Semikoz, V B

The quantum kinetic equation method is used outside the framework of the theory of perturbations of the amplitude of an external field to calculate the gain and saturation of a free-electron laser with a collinear low-current relativistic beam and two circularly polarized electromagnetic waves in vacuum. An analysis is made of the mechanism of saturation of the useful signal in an undulator free-electron laser. The saturation amplitude of the signal is found by direct quantum-kinetic calculations and also on the basis of the Klein--Gordon equation. The two sets of results are shown to agree apart from a constant factor. An exact allowance for the external field cannot be reduced to a simple replacement of the real mass of an electron with its effective mass. This is manifested by a difference between the formula for the wavelength of the useful signal emitted by a free-electron laser and the wavelength formula known from the published literature, as well as by the presence of an additional contribution to the saturation coefficient.

• Research Organization: Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radiowave Propagation, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow
• OSTI ID: 6941667
• Journal Information: Sov. J. Quant. Electron. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. J. Quant. Electron. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 13:11; ISSN SJQEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLIFICATION
BEAMS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ENERGY RANGE
EQUATIONS
FREE ELECTRON LASERS
GAIN
KINETIC EQUATIONS
LASERS
LEPTON BEAMS
MECHANICS
PARTICLE BEAMS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SATURATION