• T. Denis, K.-J. Boller, P.J.M. van der Slot
  Mesa+, Enschede

The photonic free-electron laser (pFEL) aims to realize a compact TeraHertz source that emits Watt-level and tuneable radiation. For this purpose it uses a photonic structure, which coherently couples the Cerenkov radiation from a set of individual electron beams streaming through this structure. The resulting transverse coherence of the radiation allows a power scaling of the device by extending its cross-section and the number of electron beams. To study the fundamental physics of such devices, and to compare single beam with multi-beam performance, we first designed a single electron beam pFEL operating at a low frequency of around 22 GHz. Choosing such low operating frequency facilitates pumping of the pFEL by a single electron beam. This electron beam possesses a relatively high current of 2 A and its acceleration voltage is tuneable between 7 kV and 15 kV. It is guided by a solenoid through a metal photonic structure of 30 cm length. The general design of the single beam pFEL will be presented.