Low-voltage infrared free-electron lasers based on gyrotron-powered RF wigglers

Designs are presented for infrared free-electron lasers (FEL's) with gyrotron-powered electromagnetic wigglers and relatively low voltage electron beams. The use of an electromagnetic wiggler formed by a quasi-optical gyrotron, where the radiation is coupled into a corrugated waveguide, has the potential for substantial increases of FEL gain compared to an open mirror system. Designs for proof-of-principle low-voltage infrared FEL experiments based on both radio-frequency (RF) linear accelerator and electrostatic accelerator technology are presented together with point designs for portable systems covering the infrared windows in the atmosphere.