X-band prebunched FEL amplifier

Following the successful results of the ion-channel-guiding FEL experiments, we began a new experiment open-quotes prebunched FELclose quotes. It is an FEL driven by prebunched beams, whose configuration is a normal FEL system with a prebuncher like the bunching section of a klystron. There are two purposes in this prebunched FEL system; (1) Demonstration of a compact/efficient FEL. Attaining the saturation power level with a short wiggler length (compact wiggler) and enhancing the power through the remaining wiggler length by wiggler tapering (high efficiency FEL). (2) Experimental simulation of multi-stage FELs in the FEL-TBA. Examination of FEL interactions with prebunched injection beams, especially, about the controllability of the output RF phase by changing the RF phase of the input seed power to the wiggler. Recent experimental results show: (1) The saturation power of 120MW has been attained at the wiggler length of 1.1m by 1.5MeV prebunched beams with a 45%-modulated 750A current. However, enhanced power has not been observed yet by wiggler tapering. (2) The current modulation of the injection beam (1.5MeV-500A) becoming higher than 30%, the adjustable range of the output RF phase was limitted less than 40 degrees by the input power of 60kW only. Detail explanations of design concept, theoretical and experimental results will be presented at the conference