On the theory of self-modulation instability in an FEL amplifier due to stimulated scattering of counterpropagating waves

Abstract

We present the results of numerical simulation of the self-modulation processes in an amplifier based on the effect of stimulated scattering of two counterpropagating transverse electromagnetic waves by a relativistic electron beam (FEL amplifier). Two models of the studied system are considered. One model allows for the effects of overbunching of electrons and is based on the modified method of macroparticles. The other is a simplified wave model obtained in the approximation that the amplitude of a combination wave is small if the nonlinearity of the electron-beam processes is negligibly small. The mechanisms of self-modulation are studied. The scenarios of transition to chaos, observed with increase in the input-signal intensity and system length, are examined.