title: Quantum effects in high-gain free-electron lasers.
abstract: A many-particle fully quantized theory for a free-electron laser which is valid in the high-gain regime is presented. We examine quantum corrections for the high-gain single-pass free-electron laser. It is shown that quantum effects become significant when the photon energy becomes comparable to the gain bandwidth. The initiation of the free-electron laser process from quantum fluctuations in the position and momentum of the electrons is considered, and the parameter regime for enhanced start-up is identified. Photon statistics of the free-electron laser radiation are discussed, and the photon number statistics for the self-amplified spontaneous emission are calculated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen