Compact two-beam push-pull free electron laser
An ultra-compact free electron laser comprising a pair of opposed superconducting cavities that produce identical electron beams moving in opposite directions such that each set of superconducting cavities accelerates one electron beam and decelerates the other electron beam. Such an arrangement, allows the energy used to accelerate one beam to be recovered and used again to accelerate the second beam, thus, each electron beam is decelerated by a different structure than that which accelerated it so that energy exchange rather than recovery is achieved resulting in a more compact and highly efficient apparatus.
1. A compact two-beam push-pull free electron laser comprising:
A) a pair of opposed electron beam acclerators that produce identical first and second electron beams moving in opposite directions such that each set of superconducting cavities accelerates one electron beam and decelerates the other electron beam; and
B) a wiggler located intermediate the pair of opposed electron beam accelerators receiving electron bunches from each of the opposed electron beam accelerators.
2. The compact two-beam push-pull free electron laser of claim 1 wherein each of the opposed electron beam accelerators comprises:
a) a gun for the production of electron bunches;
b) a cryocavity;
c) a separator magnet for orienting the electron bunches from the first of said opposed electron beam accelerators onto an axis and conducting electron bunches generated by the second of the opposed electron beam accelerators and emanating from the wiggler to a dump; and
d) a cryomodule for accelerating the electron bunches and having an axis coincident with the axis onto which the separator magnet has oriented the electron bunches.
3. The compact two-beam push-pull free electron laser of claim 2 further including an opposed pair of partial mirrors for the receipt of light pulses emanating from the wiggler, which partial mirror reflects light pulses produced by the wiggler back along the axis.