Undulators and generation of X-ray pulses in free-electron lasers with self-amplified spontaneous emission

The results of theoretical examination and comparative analysis of synchrotron radiation sources (specifically, undulators and X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs)) are presented. The problem of generation of shorter radiation pulses is prioritized; undulator systems and their corresponding FELs, which are considered to be the most promising in terms of generation of high-frequency ultrashort pulses of such radiation (in particular, in the X-ray range) are studied. The possibility of generation of higher harmonics is explored. The advantages and disadvantages of single-pass (with no reflecting elements) and multi-pass (with mirrors) FEL lasing schemes are revealed. The potential to reduce the duration of laser pulses produced by undulators and FELs and use them as sources of femtosecond pulses is investigated. The prospects for further development of X-ray free-electron lasers and the ways to improve the quality of their radiation with the given parameters are discussed.     

X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers with Variable Deflection Parameter of Undulators

Russian Physics Journal - The paper deals with X-ray free-electron lasers (FEL) with the variable deflection parameter of undulators with the electron buncher and harmonic amplifier. The analysis...     

Stimulated Smith-Purcell radiation

JETP Letters - The design of free-electron lasers (FELs) based on submillimeter-range undulators involves difficulties associated with the fabrication of undulators with a very small period. To do...     

Studies of classical radiation emission from plasma wave undulators

The authors examine the characteristics of the classical radiation emitted by a relativistic electron beam that propagates perpendicularly through a large amplitude relativistic plasma wave. Such a study is useful for evaluating the feasibility of using relativistic plasma waves as extremely short wavelength undulators for generating short wavelength radiation. The electron trajectories in a plasma wave undulator are obtained using perturbation techniques and are then compared to numerical simulation results. The frequency spectrum and angular distribution of the spontaneous radiation emitted by a single electron and the stimulated radiation gain are obtained analytically, and are then compared to 3-D numerical simulations. The characteristics of the plasma wave undulator are compared to the AC free-electron laser (FEL) undulator and the conventional FEL     

Proposal for generating brilliant x-ray beams carrying orbital angular momentum

We consider use of a variable polarizing undulator for generating brilliant x-ray beams carrying orbital angular momentum. We find that higher harmonics of the radiation correspond to Laguerre-Gaussian modes with azimuthal mode indices l equal to one less than the harmonic number when the undulator is operated to produce circularly polarized light. Beams with nonzero l carry orbital angular momentum quantized in units of lvariant Planck's over 2pi per photon. When operated to produce linear polarization, the harmonics correspond to Hermite-Gaussian modes. Selection of these modes with conventional monochromator optics opens the door for new research with x-ray synchrotron and free-electron laser sources.     

Amplification of monochromatic short-wavelength radiation during the stochastic deceleration of a relativistic electron stream in an incoherent pump field

The use of incoherent multiwave pump radiation or randomly varying magnetostatic fields (stochastic undulators) for improving the energy conversion efficiency in free-electron lasers based on stimulated wave scattering and the stimulated undulator emission of relativistic electron beams is proposed. It is shown within the quasilinear approximation that the electronic efficiency increases in proportion to the width of the pump spectrum due to enrichment of the spectrum of combination waves which are synchronous with the electron beam and realization of a mechanism of stochastic particle deceleration when the signal wave is monochromatic. At the same time, the efficiency scarcely depends on the spread of the beam parameters, making the use of the method promising for improving the efficiency of free-electron lasers powered by intense relativistic electron beams. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 77–81 (July 1997)     

Generating a uniform transverse distributed electron beam along a beam line

It has been reported that transverse distribution shaping can help to further enhance the energy extraction efficiency in a terawatt, tapered X-ray free-electron laser. Thus, methods of creating and keeping an almost uniform transverse distributed(UTD) beam within undulators are required. This study shows that a UTD electron beam can be generated within evenly distributed drift sections where undulators can be placed, by means of octupoles and particular optics. A specific design is presented, and numerical simulations are performed to verify the proposed method.     

Free-electron lasers and masers on curved paths

The possibility of building free-electron lasers and masers with quasi-circular undulators is considered. The two-mirror cavity is replaced by a suitable waveguide. The magnetic field along the orbit has a continuous component superimposed on the alternating one. Besides allowing large freedom for electron guiding and focusing, the structure allows effective negative mass conditions, which may enhance the electron beam modulation when space charge effect are important. Furthermore the radiation frequency can be higher than that in a linear undulator with the same electron energy, and long interaction times are possible in a compact structure. Work partially supported by the CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy), contract n. 78.00915.02 and n.78.00916.02.     

基于非线性参数估计的永磁移相器安装校正

介绍了永磁移相器的控制精度对X射线自由电子激光(FEL) 的影响, 分析其误差来源。针对传统运动控制系统检测过程复杂、手动操作精度低等缺点, 提出了基于改进高斯牛顿非线性参数估计法的自动校正系统, 阐述了校正理论与过程。利用该方法对欧洲X射线自由电子激光装置中的移相器做安装校正应用, 使得每台移相器在高磁场应力的环境下间隙位移达到μm级控制精度, 满足工程设计要求。     

Analysis of undulator radiation with an electromagnet undulator

In this paper we discuss the theory of undulator radiation in an electromagnet undulator. We discuss the spectral properties of undulator radiation when electrons are injected off the undulator axis. This paper highlights the distinctive features of the radiation spectrum from electromagnet undulators, as compared to PPM undulators.     

First Lasing of FLASH2 at DESY

The free-electron laser FLASH at DESY in Hamburg, Germany, has been extended by a second undulator line in a separate tunnel and a new experimental hall (Figure 1). The existing undulator line, called FLASH1, and the new one, which includes provisions for external seeding to be realized later, called FLASH2, both use the same linear accelerator. They are operated in tandem by separating the pulse train into two sections, which are then directed to the different undulators. The linac energy is determined by the needs of the experiments at FLASH1, whereas the wavelength at FLASH2 can be varied in the limits of the tuning range of the undulators.     

Effect of undulators on the stored electron beam of Indus-2

Indus-2 is an Indian synchrotron light source, operating at 2.5 Ge V and generating synchrotron radiation from its bending magnets. In order to provide more intense synchrotron radiation to the synchrotron users, there is a plan to install five insertion devices in the Indus-2 storage ring. In the first phase of installation of insertion devices, there is a proposal to install two out- vacuum pure permanent magnet linearly polarized undulators in long straight sections of the Indus-2 storage ring. The presence of the insertion devices in the ring has inevitable effects on beam parameters like betatron tune, betatron amplitude function, closed orbit, emittance, energy spread and dynamic aperture etc. In this paper, the effect of two undulators on the above mentioned parameters of the Indus-2stored electron beam at 2.5 Ge V is presented. Moreover a correction scheme for the restoration of the betatron tune and amplitude function is also presented.     

Analysis of pulsed wire method for field integral measurements in undulators

Pulsed wire technique is a fast and accurate method for the measurement of first and second field integrals of undulators used in free-electron lasers and synchrotron light sources. In this paper, we present a theoretical analysis of this technique by finding out the analytic solution of the differential equation for the forced vibration of the wire taking dispersion due to stiffness into account. Method of images is used to extend these solutions to include reflections at the ends. For long undulators, the effect of dispersion of the acoustic wave in the wire could be significant and our analysis provides a method for the evaluation of the magnetic field profile even in such cases taking the effect due to dispersion into account in an exact way.     

Undulators and ‘free-electron lasers’

This article outlines the early development of the undulator in which an electron beam travelling through a system of magnetic fields with directions alternating in space emits a species of linearly polarized synchrotron radiation peaked at a wavelength which is short compared to the magnet period when the electron energy is high compared with the rest energy. The conditions of synchronism and the departure from synchronism that leads to gain during a single passage of the beam are examined. In later developments, stemming from this, single pass gain of circularly polarized radiation was experimentally demonstrated by means of a ‘twister’ structure and an optical cavity, obtained by adding mirrors to the magnet assembly, was used to achieve build-up of the radiation in an oscillator device known as the ‘free-electron laser’. Applications of this device and further theoretical developments are discussed.     

Resonant X-ray magnetic scattering has gone soft

The Linac Coherent Light Source [1] (LCLS) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is preparing for the arrival of its first scientific users in the fall of 2009. LCLS is the world's first free-electron in the spectral range 800?8,000?eV, producing intense, sub-picosecond pulses of Xrays with very high spatial coherence. The accelerator facility has been commissioned in stages, beginning in April 2007 [2] with the injector linac and culminating in December 2008 [3] with the first transport of electrons through the complete beam path. On April 10, 2009, the LCLS Project team was rewarded for years of planning, design, construction, and checkout with a dream-come-true: as undulators were placed on the beam path one-by-one, the laser simply turned on without drama in the course of one hour [4]. First visible evidence of light amplification at 8,000?eV was observed on a fluorescent screen with ten undulators in place, at which point a highly collimated spot of X-rays could be discerned in the center of the spontaneous radiation pattern. After just four days of further checkout, the intensity of this spot increased smoothly and exponentially to the threshold of “saturation” at full power with just 20 of 33 undulators in place. The commissioning team was faced with a mixture of shock and euphoria. The Project team has spent years focused on everything that could possibly go wrong, and what to do about each concern. Speaking for myself, I found I was mentally unprepared for the special case of NOTHING going wrong! In fact, a critical aspect of the FEL performance was significantly better than design goals—the gain length (the distance the electron beam must travel in undulators to increase X-ray power by a factor e) proved to be just 3.5 meters. With this gain length, and room for 33 undulators in the tunnel, we find we have ten more spares! The shutter was closed at about midnight, temporarily preventing the electron beam entering the undulator. At 8:00 A.M. the next morning, the shutter was retracted to reveal the FEL producing an 8,000?eV laser beam without need for operator intervention.     

A model for analytical description of magnetic field effects and losses in a planar undulator radiation

We analyze the influence of constant magnetic constituents on the radiation of high energy electrons in a planar undulator. Broadening and spectrum shift effect of the constant field is compared with other common spectrum distortions in UR sources. Analytical formulation of the effect of the constant magnetic field enables us to obtain and study exact expressions for the UR intensity. They reveal the possibilities to influence off-axis effects and give practical recommendations for the undulators with radiation properties, best profitable for free electron lasers. Several examples of undulators are considered, recommendations specific for each case are given.     

Radiation from Elliptical Undulators with Magnetic Field Harmonics

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - We analyze undulator radiation in some multiperiodic magnetic fields. We consider undulators with planar, helical, and elliptical axisymmetric...     

High-gain free-electron laser pulse amplifiers with variable wigglers

Calculations are presented for pulse amplification in high-gain free-electron lasers with variable wiggler magnets. Better than 90% peak electron trapping and overall peak energy extraction efficiencies of over 60% are demonstrated for 1 μm radiation. Pulse reshaping and phase modulation effects are investigated.     

First results of investigation of radiation from positrons in a crystalline undulator

Radiation emitted by positrons moving in a periodically deformed crystal has been experimentally observed for the first time. Radiation spectra have been measured in a wide energy range. Experimental evidence has been obtained for an undulator peak in a radiation spectrum, which is qualitatively consistent with calculations. Crystalline undulators ensure an equivalent magnetic field of 1000 T and a period in the submillimeter range and can therefore be used to generate x-ray and gamma radiation that is a hundred times harder than radiation in usual undulators.     

Exact solution for second harmonic generation in XFELs

The generation of harmonic radiation via a non-linear mechanism, driven by electron bunching at the fundamental frequency, is an important option in the operation of high-gain Free-Electron Lasers (FELs). By utilizing harmonic generation at a large scale facility, the production of intense radiation at shorter wavelengths for the same electron beam energy is feasible. This paper describes a theory of second harmonic generation in planar undulators with particular attention to X-Ray FELs (XFELs). Our study is based on an exact analytical solution of Maxwell’s equations, derived with the help of a Green’s function method. Up-to-date theoretical understanding of second harmonic generation is limited to the estimation of the total radiation power, which is based on a comparison of the right hand side of the wave equation for the first harmonic with the right hand side of the equation for the second harmonic, the latter being incorrectly modified. The exact solution should be obtained by solving the wave equation itself. Our work yields correct parametric dependencies and specific predictions of additional properties such as polarization, angular distribution of the radiation intensity and total power. The most surprising prediction is the presence of a vertically polarized part of the second harmonic radiation, whereas current knowledge predicts a horizontally polarized field.