Simulations of the TJNAF FEL with a Tapered Undulator and Experimental Results of Laser Damage

Simulations of the TJNAF FEL with a Tapered Undulator and Experimental Results of Laser Damage PDF Author: Dimitrios Lampiris
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423532385
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 112

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Book Description
The modern maritime battlefield is dominated by the new generation of sea-skimming, high-speed, stealthy and highly agile anti-ship missiles. Anti- ship cruise missile technology continues to evolve, overcoming the performance of the existing ship self-defense weapon systems. The Free Electron Laser (FEL) could be the ultimate speed-of-light, hard-kill weapon system, offering unique features such as tunability, high power, pinpoint accuracy and infinite magazine. Multimode computer simulations were used to explore the operation of the Thomas Jefferson National Acceleration Facility (TJNAF) FEL with untapered and positively tapered undulator. The final steady-state power, the steady-state gain and the electron energy spread as a function of desynchronism were determined for both 34.5 Mev and 47.5 Mev electron beam energies. This thesis also includes an experimental study of damage induced to Polyimide Fiberglass and F2 Epoxy samples, by the TJNAF FEL. Irradiations of the samples were conducted changing various parameters such as the wavelength, average power, pulse repetition frequency, cross wind and spot size in order to explore the damage mechanism. At this stage of evolution, TJNAF FEL is capable of 500W output average power, and in order to achieve the required intensity of 10 kW/ cm2 the beam was focused to a small radius. Scaling guidelines were developed in order to predict the damage caused by a high power laser over a large area.

Simulations of the TJNAF FEL with a Tapered Undulator and Experimental Results of Laser Damage

Simulations of the TJNAF FEL with a Tapered Undulator and Experimental Results of Laser Damage PDF Author: Dimitrios Lampiris
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423532385
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 112

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Book Description
The modern maritime battlefield is dominated by the new generation of sea-skimming, high-speed, stealthy and highly agile anti-ship missiles. Anti- ship cruise missile technology continues to evolve, overcoming the performance of the existing ship self-defense weapon systems. The Free Electron Laser (FEL) could be the ultimate speed-of-light, hard-kill weapon system, offering unique features such as tunability, high power, pinpoint accuracy and infinite magazine. Multimode computer simulations were used to explore the operation of the Thomas Jefferson National Acceleration Facility (TJNAF) FEL with untapered and positively tapered undulator. The final steady-state power, the steady-state gain and the electron energy spread as a function of desynchronism were determined for both 34.5 Mev and 47.5 Mev electron beam energies. This thesis also includes an experimental study of damage induced to Polyimide Fiberglass and F2 Epoxy samples, by the TJNAF FEL. Irradiations of the samples were conducted changing various parameters such as the wavelength, average power, pulse repetition frequency, cross wind and spot size in order to explore the damage mechanism. At this stage of evolution, TJNAF FEL is capable of 500W output average power, and in order to achieve the required intensity of 10 kW/ cm2 the beam was focused to a small radius. Scaling guidelines were developed in order to predict the damage caused by a high power laser over a large area.

Simulations of the TJNAF Free Electron Laser with a Negative Taper and Laser Damage Studies

Simulations of the TJNAF Free Electron Laser with a Negative Taper and Laser Damage Studies PDF Author: Adamantios Christodoulou
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423532866
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 111

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Book Description
The Free Electron Laser (FEL) is a candidate for a future close-in weapon system that will provide a longer protective range for missile destruction. The FEL is also tunable to wavelengths that would give good atmospheric transmission and optimal target absorption characteristics at the target. This thesis describes single-mode and multimode simulation results of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) FEL operating at far infrared wavelengths. The TJNAF FEL uses inverse tapering and is driven by 34.5 MeV and 47.5 MeV energy electron pulses. Steady-state power, weak-field steady state gain, electron beam energy spread and optical spectrum widths were explored as a function of the desyncinonism and tapering rate. The simulations described FEL pulse evolution and short pulse effects. The simulation results have been presented at an International Conference held at Duke University, Durham, NC in August 2000. in addition, the results of damage to Slip-cast Fused Silica samples by the TJNAF FEL, with and without the effect of airflow are analyzed. A comparison with older damage experiments was done in order to develop scaling rules in the future.

Simulations of the Proposed TJNAF 100KW Free Electron Laser and Comparison with TJNAF Low Power Experiments

Simulations of the Proposed TJNAF 100KW Free Electron Laser and Comparison with TJNAF Low Power Experiments PDF Author: Konstantinos Polykandriotis
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423523505
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 101

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Book Description
One transitional step for the development of a 1 MW power directed energy weapon is the proposed 100 kW upgrade of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility's Free Electron Laser (FEL). To improve the performance of the FEL, the use of the step-taper undulator is explored. Steady-state gain, final steady-state power, and the induced electron spread as a function of desynchronism and taper rates are determined. Comparisons are made to the conventional periodic and linearly tapered undulators. The multimode simulations used showed that the TJNAP 100 kW FEL is feasible. Simulations results with Q = 10 show that the inverse step-taper undulator delta = - pi achieved the highest final power of 190 kW at a desynchronism value of d = 0.01, while maintaining the induced energy spread well below the engineering limit. The validity of our results is verified against experiments conducted in the TJNAF FEL facility. The simulations and the experimental data are in good agreement and consistent with analytic theory.

Simulations of the TJNAF FEL with Tapered and Inversely Tapered Undulators

Simulations of the TJNAF FEL with Tapered and Inversely Tapered Undulators PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 5

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Book Description
Experiments using the TJNAF FEL have explored the operation with both tapered and inversely tapered undulators. We present here numerical simulations using the TJNAF experimental parameters, including the effects of taper. Single-mode simulations show the effect of taper on gain. Multimode simulations describe the evolution of short optical pulses in the far infrared, and show how taper affects single-pass gain and steady-state power as a function of desynchronism. A short optical pulse presents an ever-changing field strength to each section of the electron pulse so that idealized operation is not possible. Yet, advantages for the recirculation of the electron beam can be explored.

Experimental Study of the FEL with a Tapered Undulator and Numerical Simulations of Short Pulse Free Electron Lasers

Experimental Study of the FEL with a Tapered Undulator and Numerical Simulations of Short Pulse Free Electron Lasers PDF Author: Sergiy Khodyachykh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 84

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Book Description


TJNAF Free Electron Laser Damage Studies

TJNAF Free Electron Laser Damage Studies PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Laser material damage experiments were conducted at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) free electron laser (FEL) user laboratorywith an average power of 100W and a power density of 104W/cm2. The FEL beam bombards the target with a steady stream of tens of millions of pulses persecond each containing 50MW of power in a short burst of ~1ps. No conventional laser combines these characteristics, and no experiments have previouslybeen done to explore the effects of the FEL pulse. The goal is to develop scaling laws to accurately describe large-scale damage from a MW FEL usingsmall-scale experiments.

Damage Produced by the Free Electron Laser

Damage Produced by the Free Electron Laser PDF Author: Lee R. Short
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423553229
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 70

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Book Description
The first damage experiments produced by a Free Electron Laser were conducted at the Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF). In the past, only large scale laser experiments were thought to properly model lasers for weapons applications. Scaled down procedures developed in this thesis allowed the FEL, with a few hundred watts of power, to characterize the damage produced by a megawatt weapon's scale laser. With a power density of 10 kW/cm2, the TJNAF FEL bombards targets with a steady stream of tens of millions of pulses per second. Each pulse contains 50 MW of power in short bursts lasting 4 x 10.14 seconds each. No previous laser experiments have been conducted to explore the effects of the FEL short pulses. Target materials were obtained from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Port Hueneme. Data were collected and analyzed using video cameras and optical microscopes, and irradiated at TJNAF. This thesis was a productive cooperation between NPS, TJNAF, and NSWC Port Hueneme, to the benefit of DOD.

Simulations of the Proposed TJNAF 20 KW Free Electron Laser

Simulations of the Proposed TJNAF 20 KW Free Electron Laser PDF Author: Richard B. Steele
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423560029
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 71

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Book Description
As the Navy's role as peace enforcer in support of ground troops draws Navy combatants into the littoral warfare environment, surface combatants will have to deal with decreased reaction times while engaging ever faster antiship missile threats. The Phalanx Close In Weapon System (CIWS) does not offer sufficient accuracy or engagement ranges to fight these threats, and conventional chemical lasers, which operate at fixed wavelengths, lack the tunability to operate in a dynamic ocean environment. The Free Electron Laser (FEL) offers the wavelength tunability, fast reaction times, and the pinpoint accuracy necessary to ensure protection of Navy surface combatants into the future. In support of this goal, the Navy is funding a proposed 20 kW FEL at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) in Newport News, VA. This FEL will feature a klystron undulator, designed to improve gain in weak optical fields, and a loop that will feed electrons back to the accelerator. Simulations in this thesis vary the dispersive section strengths of the klystron undulator and desynchronism between the optical and electron pulses in order to find dispersive strength and desynchronism values that optimize the effects on final power and weak field gain, while maintaining an electron energy spread less than TJNAF's goal of 6% to ensure proper feedback of electrons to the accelerator. Results show TJNAF's 20 kW FEL design will reach a final power of 19.2 kW with an energy spread of 6% at desynchronism of d=0.03 using a conventional undulator.

Simulations of the TJNAF 10kW Free Electron Laser

Simulations of the TJNAF 10kW Free Electron Laser PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 4

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Book Description
The TJNAF Free Electron Laser (FEL) will be upgraded to operate at 10kW average power in the near future. Multimode simulations are used to analyze the operation describing the evolution of short optical pulses in the far infrared wavelength regime. In an FEL that recirculates the electron beam, performance can depend on the electron beam distribution exiting the undulator. The effects of varying the undulator field strength and Rayleigh length of the resonator are explored, as well as the possibility of using an optical klystron. The simulations indicate that the FEL output power can reach the design goal of 10kW.

Simulation of a High-gain Tapered-wiggler Free-electron Laser

Simulation of a High-gain Tapered-wiggler Free-electron Laser PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
We present results from a numerical model of a high-gain (electron-beam power> input laser beam power) FEL amplifier.