Optical guiding in a free electron laser
Abstract
The coherent interaction between an optical wave and an electron beam in a free electron laser (FEL) is shown to be capable of optically guiding the light. The effect is analyzed using a two dimensional approximation for the FEL equations, and using the properties of optical fibers. Results of two dimensional (cylindrically symmetric) numerical simulations are presented, and found to agree reasonably well with the analytically derived criterion for guiding. Under proper conditions, the effect can be large and has important applications to short wavelength FELs and to directing intense light.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- October 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984STIN...8520327S
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Beams;
- Free Electron Lasers;
- Light (Visible Radiation);
- Refractivity;
- Electron Energy;
- Fiber Optics;
- Optical Fibers;
- Lasers and Masers