Optics for VUV and soft x-ray FEL Oscillators Michelle Shinn & Steve Benson Future Light Sources Jefferson Lab March 5, 2012 Work supported by the U.S. Dept. of Energy under contract DE-AC05-06OR23177 and the Commonwealth of Virginia

Introduction Past DOE Basic Energy Science (DOE-BES) workshops have stressed the desire to have a soft x-ray FEL operating at 1keV (1.24nm). While great progress is being made to achieve this energy, it remains an elusive goal. This presentation proposes a path forward to achieve this energy –Use an FEL oscillator’s harmonics to provide the harmonics, and modulation to seed a radiator undulator. Must consider the challenging environment for the cavity optics.

The flat HR optical resonator Last year we published a design* for an FEL oscillator operating in the VUV (12-150nm). In the process of designing the optical resonator, we came up with an entirely new architecture dubbed, “flat HR” This high gain, very low Q resonator makes use of the low divergence beam to avoid diffraction at the wiggler. Strong optical guiding permits this architecture, even though the cold cavity is unstable. Such a cavity architecture should also work at higher energies, where the 3 rd or 5 th harmonic output can be used as a seed for a radiator, producing coherent output at ~ 1keV. –Goal is to produce fundamental output in the GW level, so 3 rd & 5 th harmonic’s powers are of order 1MW. To keep the resonator length reasonable, rep rate will be in the range 2.5 – 5 MHz. * Benson et al JMO 58 p1431 (2011)

Flat HR FELO schematic and transverse 12.4nm

Wiggler and e beam parameters Cold cavity parameters calculated using Paraxia-Plus (Sciopt Inc) 3D FEL simulations were done using Genesis/OPC

VUV FEL output Very high gain g = 12.4nm, 20nm –Saturated gains > 1, imply intracavity power much lower than output.

Advantages Relative to a two curved-mirror resonator, the flat HR resonator –Does not have evidence of mode-hopping or shift in position in an attempt to avoid the hole. –Is less sensitive to mirror steering (e.g. vibration). –To changes in mirror figure It’s easier to maintain flatness of the HR. Loading on OC is minimized due to the majority of power transported through the hole.

VUV 200eV Goal is to seed downstream radiator with 5 th harmonic –Must not induce too much energy spread on the exhaust e beam. 2GeV, 100 pC e beam Minimum rep rate of 4.68 MHz Genesis/OPC single slice *G. Neil private communication Based on discussions with FOM-IPP staff

Output characteristics at 200eV Lasing efficiency = 0.225%  P = 2.1 kW (!) E = 0.45mJ net gain ~ 100% sat gain ~ 13 Wiggler exit HR mirror Wiggler input Far-field output

340eV Goal is to seed downstream radiator with 3 rd harmonic –Relative to 200eV case: Same e beam parameters Wiggler gap larger Outcoupling hole ½ as large Reflectivity lower Genesis/OPC single slice * C. Montcalm et al Appl. Opt. 35 (1996)

Output characteristics at 340eV Lasing efficiency = 0.076%  P = 714W E = 0.15mJ net gain ~ 30% sat gain ~ 10 Wiggler exitHR mirrorWiggler input Far-field output

Optics considerations Scattering –While scattering does not distort optics, it competes with the reflectivity, so it must be considered. Hole quality –Requires ion milling to achieve desired shape and smoothness. Laser damage –A survey of the literature shows that laser-induced damage is dominantly thermal in nature. –Damage most likely to occur at the HR mirror. –Fluence estimated to be 480mJ/cm 200eV and 160mJ/cm 340eV –For comparison, E thr = 45mJ/cm 92eV* & many 100s/mJ/cm 830eV** –Suggests we need to consider a longer resonator. –Cryogenically cool the mirrors – known to raise damage threshold. * A.R. Khorsand et al Opt. Ex. 18 (2010)** S. P. Hau-Riege et al Opt. Ex. 18 (2010)

Conclusions We’ve presented conceptual designs for FEL oscillators at 200eV and 340eV. –Based on the flat HR architecture. Lasing induces modulation at harmonic’s frequencies and the harmonics seed a radiator to produce output in the soft x-ray region (~ 1keV) Mirror reflectivity's at higher energies continue falling, and become too low for energies above ~ 500eV. Appears to be a viable alternative to laser-seeded amplifiers in the 0.1 – 2keV energy range. Laser damage must be managed – –Resonator length will do this, of order 60m. Future plans –Optimize oscillator e.g., OC ROC, hole size, etc. –Use 4D Genesis/OPC and Medusa/OPC to predict performance of complete system  oscillator + radiator

Acknowledgements Anne Watson (JLab/NC State) & Peter van der Slot –Genesis/OPC software development and discussions. Gwyn Williams – font of information on VUV (and beyond) optical properties. George Neil – for goading us to think beyond near-concentric resonators.