Properties of the ultrashort gain length, self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser in the linear regime and saturation

• Published in: Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics, 2003-06, Vol.67 (6 Pt 2), p.066501-066501
• Main Authors: Murokh, A, Agustsson, R, Babzien, M, Ben-Zvi, I, Bertolini, L, van Bibber, K, Carr, R, Cornacchia, M, Frigola, P, Hill, J, Johnson, E, Klaisner, L, Le Sage, G, Libkind, M, Malone, R, Nuhn, H-D, Pellegrini, C, Reiche, S, Rakowsky, G, Rosenzweig, J, Ruland, R, Skaritka, J, Toor, A, Tremaine, A, Wang, X, Yakimenko, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1539-3755
• DOI: 10.1103/physreve.67.066501

VISA (Visible to Infrared SASE Amplifier) is a high-gain self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL), which achieved saturation at 840 nm within a single-pass 4-m undulator. The experiment was performed at the Accelerator Test Facility at BNL, using a high brightness 70-MeV electron beam. A gain length shorter than 18 cm has been obtained, yielding a total gain of 2 x 10(8) at saturation. The FEL performance, including the spectral, angular, and statistical properties of SASE radiation, has been characterized for different electron beam conditions. Results are compared to the three-dimensional SASE FEL theory and start-to-end numerical simulations of the entire injector, transport, and FEL systems. An agreement between simulations and experimental results has been obtained at an unprecedented level of detail.