QUANTUM FLUCTUATIONS IN FREE-ELECTRON LASERS

摘要

In this paper we present a many-particle fully-quantized theory of the free-electron laser. We examine quantum corrections for the high-gain single-pass free-electron laser operating in the self-amplified spontaneous emission mode. It is shown that quantum effects become significant when the photon energy becomes comparable to the energy radiated by a single electron at saturation. 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.