Abstract

Free-electron lasers (FELs) have been demonstrated in the last decade in a wide range of operating frequencies ranging from microwaves to visible light.¹ As the technology of FELs has matured, the possibility of high power levels with high efficiency while maintaining high coherence and wavelength tunability has become evident. This property of FELs leads to near-term and futuristic applications, which are compatible with the expected size and weight characteristics of such high-power devices.

© 1988 Optical Society of America