Short-Pulse High-Power THz Generation Using Optical Klystron FELs: Simulation Results

Abstract

The generation of high-power radiation in the terahertz (THz) regime using free-electron lasers (FELs) is challenging due to strong diffraction and pronounced slippage effects. These constraints often limit the achievable pulse duration and peak power in conventional single-pass THz FEL configurations. In this work, we investigate an unseeded optical klystron (OK) FEL concept tailored for the THz regime. Using time-dependent three-dimensional simulations for resonant wavelengths of 10, 30, and 100 μm, we demonstrate that this approach enables the generation of coherent ultrashort THz pulses with durations of a sub picoseconds (FWHM) and peak powers in the multi-hundred- megawatt range at wavelengths 10 and 30 μm. To address the slippage challenge, we propose and numerically demonstrate a novel chicane-embedded optical delay scheme, which restores phase alignment between the radiation and microbunched electrons. Simulations confirm that careful tuning of the dispersive strengths allows staged amplification, preserving beam quality and reaching multi-megawatt output power. These results highlight the potential of THz-tailored optical klystrons to generate compact, short, and high-intensity THz pulses, and lay the groundwork for future experimental studies and facility implementation