Optimal Charge of a Photocathode Gun for a Compact X-ray Free-Electron Laser

Abstract

For a photocathode gun, the optimal charge per gun pulse is derived to give the theoretically allowed smallest saturation length of the X-ray free-electron laser based on the self amplified spontaneous emission scheme. The derivation is approximate, but the result is practically independent of specific machine design. The objective is to contribute to the study of a compact X-ray free-electron laser.