Formation of low time-bandwidth product, single-sided exponential optical pulses in free-electron laser oscillators

The detailed shape of picosecond optical pulses from a free-electron laser (FEL) oscillator has been studied for various cavity detunings. For large values of the cavity detuning the optical pulse develops an exponential leading edge, with a time constant proportional to the applied cavity detuning and the quality factor of the resonator. This behavior has been observed at two separate FELs that have completely different resonator layouts and electron beam characteristics, and using different methods of optical pulse length measurement. The optical pulses have a full width at half maximum time-bandwidth product Deltat(FWHM)Deltaf(FWHM) of 0.2-0.3. The results presented here can be used to predict the optical pulse length and corresponding minimum spectral width that can be generated in a FEL pumped by short electron bunches. This is important for the design of new infrared free-electron laser user facilities, which need to make a balanced choice between short pulses for high temporal resolution and narrow bandwidth for linear and nonlinear spectroscopy.

Subpicosecond electro-optic measurement of relativistic electron pulses

Time-resolved measurements of the transverse electric field associated with relativistic electron bunches are presented. Using an ultrafast electro-optic sensor close to the electron beam, the longitudinal profile of the electric field was measured with subpicosecond time resolution and without time-reversal ambiguity. Results are shown for two cases: inside the vacuum beam line in the presence of wake fields, and in air behind a beryllium window, effectively probing the near-field transition radiation. Especially in the latter case, reconstruction of the longitudinal electron bunch shape is straightforward.

Continuously tunable, high-power, single-mode radiation from a short-pulse free-electron laser.

This paper gives the first demonstration of high-power, continuously tunable, narrowband radiation that is produced by means of a free-electron laser (FEL) in the far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. A Fox-Smith intracavity étalon was used to induce phase coherence between the 40 optical micropulses that were circulating in the laser cavity. The corresponding phase-locked spectrum consisted of a comb of discrete frequencies separated by 1 GHz. A pair of external Fabry-Pérot étalons was used to filter out a single line from this spectrum. The power in the selected narrow line at 69 microm wavelength was equal to 250 mW during the macropulse of the laser. The spectral width of the selected line is as small as that of a single cavity mode, i.e., a fraction of 25 MHz, in single macropulses of the laser. The average bandwidth of 25 MHz is determined by mode hopping of the phase-locked FEL. The selected frequency hops over 25 MHz between the extrema of this band. The influence of partially coherent spontaneous emission and mode hopping on the final linewidth was studied. The narrow-linewidth radiation was scanned in frequency over 1 GHz. We show that the possibilities to scan over smaller or larger frequency intervals are unlimited.

Stigmatic and coma-free imaging with a thick prism: a comparison of third-order theory and ray-tracing results.

Although the use of prisms is often avoided because of their aberrations, they are suitable for image-tilt correction. In contradiction to current recommendations, zero astigmatism together with zero coma cannot be achieved at minimum deviation. This paper describes two configurations that meet these conditions. A correction of earlier published third-order formulas is presented and compared to ray-tracing results. The results of the third-order theory are used to develop a model for image-tilt correction, while introducing minimal coma and maintaining a flat image field.