title: Formation of low time-bandwidth product, single-sided exponential optical pulses in free-electron laser oscillators
abstract: The detailed shape of picosecond optical pulses from a free-electron laser (FEL) oscillator has been studied for various cavity detunings. For large values of the cavity detuning the optical pulse develops an exponential leading edge, with a time constant proportional to the applied cavity detuning and the quality factor of the resonator. This behavior has been observed at two separate FELs that have completely different resonator layouts and electron beam characteristics, and using different methods of optical pulse length measurement. The optical pulses have a full width at half maximum time-bandwidth product Deltat(FWHM)Deltaf(FWHM) of 0.2-0.3. The results presented here can be used to predict the optical pulse length and corresponding minimum spectral width that can be generated in a FEL pumped by short electron bunches. This is important for the design of new infrared free-electron laser user facilities, which need to make a balanced choice between short pulses for high temporal resolution and narrow bandwidth for linear and nonlinear spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Engineering, University of Abertay Dundee, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, United Kingdom.
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: MacLeod
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Knippels
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oepts
authors.lastname: van Der Meer AF
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Rella
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Schwettman