Three-dimensional theory of the Smith-Purcell free-electron laser with side walls

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3068308· OSTI ID:21185994

Andrews, H L; Jarvis, J D; Brau, C A ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235 (United States)

We present an analytic theory for the operation of a Smith-Purcell free-electron laser with side walls that includes the effects of transverse diffraction in the optical beam. We allow the width of the electron beam and the width of the grating to vary independently and require the walls to be high compared to the wavelength of the evanescent wave. The results show that the side walls change the empty-grating dispersion relation in important ways. When the separation of the walls is not too large, it is sufficient to consider only the lowest-order transverse mode of the grating. In this case, we obtain excellent agreement with numerical simulations and experimental results.

• OSTI ID: 21185994
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 105, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3068308; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DIFFRACTION
DIFFRACTION GRATINGS
DISPERSION RELATIONS
ELECTRON BEAMS
FREE ELECTRON LASERS
SIMULATION
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WALLS