Effective DC acceleration of charged particles in a circular ring and its potential application

Area of Science:

• Particle accelerators
• Plasma physics
• Quantum optics

Background:

• Continuous-wave (CW) terahertz free-electron lasers (FELs) require effective electron beam acceleration.
• Existing methods like linac-driven FELs and RF storage-ring FELs have limitations in achieving high average output power.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel DC acceleration scheme for charged particles in a circular ring.
• To demonstrate its application in a CW terahertz FEL.
• To achieve high average output power unattainable with current technologies.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an induction acceleration cell with multi-insulating gaps for effective DC acceleration.
• Employing solid-state switching devices (e.g., SiC-MOSFET) or diodes for controlled short-circuiting.
• Accelerating a coasting electron beam without bunching in an isochronous storage ring.
• Compensating for energy loss due to synchrotron radiation and FEL interaction.

Main Results:

• A baseline design for the induction acceleration cell was established.
• The proposed scheme effectively compensates for energy loss in the electron beam.
• FEL microbunching was successfully created for a coasting beam.
• The potential for significantly higher average output power in terahertz FELs was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The novel DC acceleration scheme offers a viable solution for high-power CW terahertz FELs.
• This approach overcomes limitations of existing FEL technologies.
• It paves the way for advanced applications requiring high-intensity coherent radiation.