Numerical simulation of Smith-Purcell free-electron lasers.
We present a one-dimensional time-dependent analysis and simulation of Smith-Purcell (SP) free-electron lasers (FELs). The coupled Maxwell-Lorentz equations are set up, and the details of numerical simulation are presented. At low electron beam energy, a SP-FEL is a backward wave oscillator (BWO), and oscillations can be achieved without the need for feedback mirrors. In the linear regime, we show that the optical power grows exponentially if the current is larger than a certain value, the start current. Results of our numerical calculation compare well with the analytic calculation in the linear regime and show saturation behavior in the nonlinear regime. An electron beam traveling close and parallel to a mettalic grating, with grating rulings perpendicular to the electron motion, gives off polarized electromagnetic radiation known as Smith-Purcell radiation. A Smith-Purcell free-electron laser (SP-FEL) based on this effect is interesting as a possible compact source of tunable, coherent THz radiation. Analytic theory of SP-FELs in the linear regime has been discussed by several authors under different approximations. Here, we present a fully self-consistent nonlinear analysis, which can be used to understand the saturation behavior and simulate the realistic effects; coupled Maxwell-Lorentz equations for an SP-FEL driven by sheet beam are derived and solved numerically to perform detailed analysis.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 982589
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/ASD/CP-116198; TRN: US201015%%1199
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 27th International Free Electron Laser Conference (FEL 2005); Aug. 21, 2005 - Aug. 26, 2005; Stanford, CA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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