Numerical simulation studies of the design and performance of the AFEL for high average power operation

AFEL (Advanced Free-Electron Laser) at Los Alamos is a compact free-electron laser oscillator which utilizes a very high-brightness electron beam generated by a high gradient linac whose source of electrons is a photocathode injector. This device has been operating, with 15--17 MeV electrons, at optical wavelengths in the 4.5--6.0 μm range, since April of 1993 with a one-centimeter-period, permanent-magnet wiggler which is 24 periods long. The linac produces about 12 μs macropulses at a normal repetition rate of one Hz, while the micropulse repetition rate within a macropulse is 108.33 Mhz which is consistent with the optical cavity length of about 138.5 cm. A program is now underway to upgrade the subsystems of this laser in order to allow it to produce long-time-average optical output powers in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 kW. In this communication, we briefly indicate the details of the equipment upgrades, describe a new high-extraction-efficiency wiggler, and present the results of numerical simulation studies of the design