Swiss-French team develop new concept for FEL gun laser

17 Sep 2013

Paul Scherrer Institute and Amplitude Systèmes propose novel ytterbium-based FEL.

A team of researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland, in collaboration with Amplitude Systèmes, Bordeaux, France, have presented a new concept for the future Swiss FEL Laser at the recent Free Electron Laser Conference, in New York.

The system consists of a hybrid ytterbium fiber with a solid state Yb:CaF₂ amplifier. The laser’s performance features – such as energy stability, timing jitter, double pulse operation, temporal and spatial pulse shape of the ultra-violet laser pulses – perfectly match the Swiss FEL requirements. Up to now, most of the facilities use laser systems have been based on the established Ti:Sapphire technology.

However, the mature and stable direct diode pumping technology and a novel, optimized design allow for high reliability, long lifetime and lower maintenance cost compared to the widely-used Ti:sapphire laser systems, say the partners. Amplitude Systèmes’ Christoph Hauri and Alexandre Trisorio, commented, "Because of these features the hybrid ytterbium fiber and solid state Yb:CaF₂ amplifier from Amplitude Systèmes are therefore an interesting solution for photocathode applications."

The 35th International Free-Electron Laser Conference was held in Manhattan, New York, organized by Brookhaven National Laboratory, based on Long island, NY. The four-day conference covered a wide range of FEL topics including beam physics, short and long wavelength FELs, seeding and harmonics, guns, injectors and accelerators, as well as new concepts, such as the Amplitude / Scherrer design.

China visit

Amplitude Systèmes was also recently visited by the Franco-China Foundation, which brings together business leaders from both countries.

Amplitude Systèmes, the only SME selected in the latest program, hosted the Chinese delegation on August 30. Jean-Pierre Giannini, president of the Alpha-Route des Lasers cluster, gave a presentation about the regions’s activities in optics and Lasers.

The company, located near Bordeaux, France, develops diode-pumped ultrafast solid-state lasers for scientific and industrial applications. Amplitude Systèmes, together with its sister company Amplitude Technologies, offers all ultrafast laser technologies available today, from industrial fiber lasers to high energy Petawatt class Ti:Sapphire lasers.

About the Author

Matthew Peach is a contributing editor to optics.org.