Tunable compact high power far-infrared grating free-electron laser

The linear and nonlinear operation of a multiwave grating free-electron laser is described. The radiation is generated by the passage of an annular electron beam through a coaxial waveguide, the central conductor being in the form of a corrugated cylinder. The model includes the effects of self-field forces, beam emittance and gyromotion of electrons in a guide magnetic field. The efficiency is determined by numerical simulation and compared with analytical estimates. A compact source utilizing, for example, a high brightness beam from a carbon fibre electron gun, that is tunable in the wavelength band 35-55 /spl mu/m with output in the kilowatt range, is shown to be feasible.<
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