Optimal scaled photoinjector designs for FEL applications

Much of the research and development surrounding the effort to create X-ray FELs based on the SASE process has centered on the creation of ultra-high brightness electron beam sources. The sources for existing short wavelength FEL designs, which employ RF photoinjector technology, have all been specified to contain 1 nC of charge. We show, by scaling existing designs, that this constraint causes the maximum beam brightness to be found when the RF wavelength is shortened to X-band. If, instead of holding the charge constant, we assume a certain RF wavelength device and then scale the charge, notable improvements in the beam brightness, and thus the FEL performance, are found. Charge scaling assumes that the density and aspect ratio of the beam stays constant as the charge is changed. If we relax the requirement of a constant aspect ratio in order to maximize the beam current and brightness by shortening the beam pulse, we find that the pulse lengthening due to space charge eventually brings this effort to a stop. The results of this investigation and their impact on SASE FEL design are discussed.