Simulation of proposed 20 kW klystron free electron laser

Abstract

The Free Electron Laser (FEL) is a potential solution for the U.S. Navy's anti-ship missile point defense by providing an evolutionary increase in weapon accuracy. To become an effective weapon, the FEL will need to provide an average optical power of approximately one MW. Towards this goal, the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) in Newport News, Virginia is constructing the first kW FEL, and desires to improve the design to 20 kW while maintaining less than 6% energy spread. Using a klystron undulator is one potential way to accomplish this. Given design parameters of a proposed free electron laser by TJNAF, this study quantifies via simulation the behaviors of gain, power and energy spread as functions of desynchronism and a klystron's dispersive strength. Specifically, it shows that a conventional undulator appears capable of meeting all TJNAF design requirements.