Abstract
It is commonly assumed that a matched electron beam optimizes free-electron-laser performance; however, this assumption has not been proven for operation in the high-gain regime. We test this hypothesis for a self-amplified spontaneous emission configuration using a 3D multimode simulation. The gain length predicted for a matched beam is in good agreement with analytic theory. Further, the simulation indicates that while the gain length is optimized for a matched beam the saturated power is not necessarily optimized.
- Received 27 June 1997
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.520
©1998 American Physical Society