| Popis: |
The potential advantages of the FEL for military applications (tunability, short-wavelength operation, efficiency, and high power) have been the goals of the Joint U.S. Army/SDIO, and Defense Research Project Agency (DARPA) programs since 1976. From the outset of the program, it was clear that funding constraints would mandate the development and demonstration of these attributes in separate but closely coupled subscale technology efforts prior to integration in a full scale weapons prototype. These efforts have so far successfully demonstrated the tunability, short wavelength generation, and high extraction efficiency of FELs. Among the most important attributes and technologies that have been developed to date are validated design codes, high quality electron beams for short wavelength operation, ring resonators, tapered wigglers, optical gain guiding, cryogenic accelerator components, energy recovery, and critical high average power components such as CW433 MHz klystrons, photoinjectors, and accelerating cavities. These technologies will be integrated into the 10 μm. 100 kW average power laser experiment (APLE), which will be built at the Boeing facility in Seattle, and which can be upgraded to operate at higher powers and shorter wavelengths. The accomplishments of the program will be described, and the paths to a high power, cryogenic FEL will be outlined. |
