Progress in accelerator technology for strategic defense

Progress in accelerator technology has made possible many applications in strategic defense. The feasibility of developing high brightness neutral particle beams has been demonstrated with a low energy pulsed test stand, and through individual component development. Free electron lasers (FELs) employing high peak power electron beams from induction linear accelerators are now a promising approach to ground based lasers. Advances in radio-frequency linear electron accelerators suggest applications for high average power free electron lasers for space or ground basing. The invention of laser guided electron beams using ion focusing has led to new recirculating accelerator concepts, beam transport with high efficiency, and novel applications for intense beams combining the best features of lasers and particle beams. (orig.)