CW 100 kW radio frequency-free-electron laser design at 10 μm

The authors describe the 100 kW continuous-wave (CW) radio frequency free-electron laser at 10 μm to be built at Boeing Defense and Space Group in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The authors discuss the criteria which led to the selection of the operating point. The authors outline the single-accelerator master-oscillator power-amplifier concept. This approach and the wavelength were chosen on the basis of maximum cost-effectiveness, including utilization of existing hardware, reasonable technical risk, and potential for future applications. The major experimental goals for the average power laser experiment (APLE) program are discussed, and the expected performance is considered