Laser harmonic generation using the optical klystron and the effects of wiggler errors

Abstract

Coherent radiation produced by a laser-bunched relativistic electron beam (the optical klystron) has been proposed as a tunable source of laser harmonics in the XUV. This paper presents a brief introduction to the physics of optical klystron laser harmonic generation and a discussion of the limitations of the technique. The effects of finite electron beam emittance, energy spread and random undulator field errors on the performance of the optical klystron are discussed. Finally, possible methods for dealing with the limitations of the technique are discussed.