The U.k. Free Electron Laser Project

Construction of apparatus for a free electron laser experiment is being undertaken by a collaboration involving principally groups at the Heriot-Watt and Glasgow Universities and at the SERC Daresbury Laboratory. The experiments will be centred on 10.6 μm but a tuning range of at least 2-20 μm will be investigated. The gain has been optimised in a regime of large linewidth broadening arising from the electron beam and wiggler magnet properties. The performance of the electron linac source is being improved and a new beam line is under construction. A periodic magnet design utilising samarium cobalt blocks has been chosen and will be assembled and tested shortly. Following electron beam commissioning tests it is planned to start a comprehensive study of FEL characteristics late in 1983.