z-pinch wiggler

There have been several proposals for wigglers making use of the intense electromagnetic fields available with high-density plasmas. A novel approach is described here, i.e. the use of a hollow z-pinch generated plasma, which allows for the exploitation of the high fields generated by plasma oscillations without the electron beam passing through the plasma. Simple compression of an axial magnetic field by a hollow plasma tube can achieve significant field strengths with moderate currents, thus providing a simple mechanism, the cyclotron maser, for achieving generation of coherent radiation. The proposed approach is inherently flexible in allowing different wiggler designs including the ability to do tapering. Several z-pinch wiggler variations are presented and discussed. The most advantageous feature of the proposed hollow z-pinch wiggler is the elimination of plasma on axis, so that beam-plasma scattering is also eliminated. Thus, it maintains the advantages of other plasma devices and improves on them by returning the beam to its preferred high vacuum environment