Variable Polarization Control in Free-Electron Lasers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive 3D, time-dependent model for free-electron lasers that accurately simulates variable optical polarization states, including linear, elliptical, and circular, by accounting for complex undulator configurations and imperfections.

Contribution

It presents a novel self-consistent modeling approach that simultaneously considers two independent polarizations and complex undulator arrangements in FELs.

Findings

Model accurately predicts polarization evolution in FELs.

Enables design of undulators for desired polarization states.

Accounts for undulator imperfections and degradation.

Abstract

Free-electron lasers (FELs) over virtually the entire electromagnetic spectrum from microwaves through ultraviolet through hard x-rays that are either seeded or start from noise. FELs can produce a variety of different optical polarizations of the output radiation ranging from linear through elliptic to circular polarization depending upon the characteristics of the undulators used. For example, x-ray FELs use long undulator lines composed of a series of relatively short undulators. Most such FELs use linearly polarized undulators due to the ease of manufacture and tuning; hence the optical output is linearly polarized. However, elliptic or circular polarizations are possible by varying the orientation of the undulators along the line. Alternately, APPLE-II or Delta undulator designs allow for producing undulating magnetic fields with arbitrary polarizations. Here, we present a three-dimensional, time-dependent formulation that self-consistently models two independent optical polarizations and, therefore, completely treats any given sequence or combination of undulator, undulator imperfections, and undulator degradation There are two principal characteristics of the formulation that underpin this capability. In the first place, the particle trajectories are integrated by means of the full Lorentz force equations using three-dimensional analytic models of the undulators fields. This permits an accurate model of the interaction of the electrons with a large variety of undulator fields and orientations. In the second place, the formulation allows the electrons to couple simultaneously to two independent polarizations of the electromagnetic wave and, therefore, allows the optical polarization to evolve self-consistently along the undulator line. After first describing the numerical model, we proceed to give some examples using different undulator configurations that are of interest.