Single pass, THz spectral range free-electron laser driven by a photocathode hybrid rf linear accelerator

Abstract

A single pass, THz spectral range free-electron laser (FEL) driven by a photocathode hybrid rf-LINAC is considered, taking the Israeli THz FEL project developed in Ariel University as an example. Two possible configurations of such FEL are discussed: an enhanced coherent spontaneous emission FEL, and a prebunched FEL utilizing periodically modulated short electron beam pulses. A general study of the FEL configurations is carried out in the framework of a space-frequency approach, realized in WB3D numerical code. The configurations are studied and compared based on preliminary parameters of a drive hybrid rf-LINAC gun under development in University of California, Los Angeles.