High-gain quantum free-electron laser: long-time dynamics and requirements

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the long-time behavior of a high-gain quantum free-electron laser, revealing how initial field states influence photon statistics and suggesting seeded Quantum FELs are more practical than self-amplified emission.

Contribution

It provides a detailed quantum dynamical analysis of high-gain FELs, highlighting the impact of initial states and proposing seeded configurations as more feasible.

Findings

Electrons emit at most one photon on average in the quantum regime.

Photon statistics variance depends on initial field states.

Seeded Quantum FELs are more feasible than self-amplified spontaneous emission.

Abstract

We solve the long-time dynamics of a high-gain free-electron laser in the quantum regime. In this regime each electron emits at most one photon on average, independently of the initial field. In contrast, the variance of the photon statistics shows a qualitatively different behavior for different initial states of the field. We find that the realization of a seeded Quantum FEL is more feasible than self-amplified spontaneous emission.