Modulated desynchronism in a free-electron laser oscillator

We study experimentally and theoretically, the effects of desynchronism modulation on short pulse free-electron laser (FEL) oscillators. We find that the output power and the micropulse length of the FEL beam oscillate periodically at the modulation frequency and the minimum micropulse length can be significantly shorter than that obtained without modulation. The FEL can operate during part of the modulation cycle in the normally inaccessible portion of the output power curve where the FEL gain is less than the cavity loss.