We present an analysis of a Čerenkov free-electron laser (FEL) driven by a flat electron beam. In this system, an electron beam traveling close to a dielectric slab placed at the top of an ideal conductor interacts with the copropagating electromagnetic surface mode. The surface mode arises due to singularity in the reflectivity of the dielectric slab for the incident evanescent wave. Under suitable conditions, the surface mode grows as a result of interaction with the electron beam. We show that the interaction of the surface mode with the copropagating electron beam can be rigorously understood by analyzing the singularity in the reflectivity. Using this approach, we set up coupled Maxwell-Lorentz equations for the system, in analogy with conventional undulator based FELs. We solve these equations analytically in the small signal regime to obtain formulas for the small signal gain, and the spatial growth rate. Saturation behavior of the system is analyzed by solving these equations numerically in the nonlinear regime. Results of numerical simulations are in good agreement with the analytical calculations in the linear regime. We find that Čerenkov FEL under appropriate conditions can produce copious coherent terahertz (THz) radiation.
InČerenkov and Smith-Purcell free-electron lasers (FELs), a resonant interaction between the electron beam and the co-propagating surface mode can produce copious amount of coherent terahertz (THz) radiation. We perform a three-dimensional (3D) analysis of the surface mode, taking the effect of attenuation into account, and set up 3D Maxwell-Lorentz equations for both these systems. Based on this analysis, we determine the requirements on the electron beam parameters, i.e., beam emittance, beam size and beam current for the successful operation of aČerenkov FEL.
In this paper, we have proposed aČerenkov free-electron laser (CFEL) with metallic side walls, which are used to confine an electromagnetic surface mode supported by a thin dielectric slab placed on top of a conducting surface. This leads to an enhancement in coupling between the optical mode and the co-propagating electron beam, and consequently, performance of the CFEL is improved.We set up coupled Maxwell-Lorentz equations for the system, in analogy with an undulator based conventional FEL, and obtain formulas for the small-signal gain and growth rate. It is shown that small signal gain and growth rate in this configuration are larger compared to the configuration without the side walls. In the nonlinear regime, we solve the coupled Maxwell-Lorentz equations numerically and study the saturation behaviour of the system. It is found that theČerenkov FEL with side walls saturates quickly, and produces powerful coherent terahertz radiation.
High power (∼ 100 kW) industrial electron linear accelerators (linacs) are used for irradiation applications e.g., for pasteurization of food products, disinfection of medical waste, etc. We propose that high power electron beam from such an industrial linac can be first passed through an undulator to generate powerful terahertz (THz) radiation, and the spent electron beam coming out of the undulator can still be used for industrial applications. This will enhance the utilisation of a high power industrial linac. We have performed calculation of spontaneous emission in the undulator to show that for typical parameters, continuous terahertz radiation having power of the order of µW can be produced, which may be useful for many scientific applications.
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