Preliminary emission characteristic measurements for a $300k FIR FEL

If the free-electron laser is to move from the category of “national facility” to the designation of a “laboratory instrument” it must meet several conditions, including a reduction in cost. For the far infrared, an FEL can be constructed for a component cost of approximately $300 000 including the accelerator. Such a device has been assembled, using a 1 1/2 cell RF cavity gun for the accelerator and a staggered-array wiggler consisting of permeable pole pieces in the field of a superconducting solenoid. Spontaneous emission measurements have been performed, and laser gain has been observed. Measurements have been in good agreement with theory.