Recent experiments with the free-electron laser at Los Alamos

Improvements in the operational characteristics of the Los Alamos National Laboratory free-electron laser have produced experimental results in reasonable agreement with theory and simulation. The results of experiments on a uniform wiggler and on several tapered wigglers are presented. Lasing with uniform wigglers is considered with emphasis on sideband suppression and harmonic lasing. Electron trapping, efficiency, and detuning are considered for tapered wigglers.<>