A Smith-Purcell free electron laser based on an X-band photoinjector

Summary form only given. A Smith-Purcell free electron laser (SPFEL) involves the interaction of an electromagnetic (EM) wave, a periodic grating structure, an electron beam propagating parallel to the plane of the grating and normal to the grating rulings, and an optical cavity. The authors describe plans for a detailed experimental and theoretical study of a SPFEL The source of the electron beam will be the X-band photoinjector under development at LLNL (Landahl et al., 1998). This source was originally designed for the optimum production of coherent radiation at frequencies up to I THz; the device produces relativistic (5 MeV) electron bunches with sub-ps duration. Therefore, the X-band RF gun would be ideally suited to generate high power (MW) pulses of radiation, via the coherent SPFEL.