A megawatt (MW)class Free Electron Laser (FEL) as a point defense weapon system may lead to a revolution in anti-ship missile defense. Deep magazine low cost per shot proportional engagement capability and speed of light energy delivery provide the FEL with unmatched advantages over kinetic energy weapon systems. Before an FEL is made feet deployable stability system parameter optimization and operational utility all interest be taken into account. A short Rayleigh length FEL design is being considered in order to reduce system size and mitigate resonator minor damage. A short Rayleigh length thought can lead to vibrational sensitivities which must be studied. This thesis demonstrates that utilizing currently available technology and properly defined parameters a short Rayleigh length FEL should be able to achieve a MW of power. This thesis will also establish the viability of the FEE as a fleet deployable point defense weapon system through the development of a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) which draws from current naval warfare doctrine.

This book presents a scientific assessment of free-electron-laser technology for naval applications. The charge from the Office of Naval Research was to assess whether the desired performance capabilities are achievable or whether fundamental limitations will prevent them from being realized. The present study identifies the highest-priority scientific and technical issues that must be resolved along the development path to achieve a megawatt-class free-electron laser. In accordance with the charge, the committee considered (and briefly describes) trade-offs between free-electron lasers and other types of lasers and weapon systems to show the advantages free-electron lasers offer over other types of systems for naval applications as well as their drawbacks. The primary advantages of free-electron lasers are associated with their energy delivery at the speed of light, selectable wavelength, and all-electric nature, while the trade-offs for free-electron lasers are their size, complexity, and relative robustness. Also, Despite the significant technical progress made in the development of high-average-power free-electron lasers, difficult technical challenges remain to be addressed in order to advance from present capability to megawatt-class power levels.

This volume contains Part II of the proceedings of the conference on Free Electron Lasers, held in Beijing, August 1997. Part I appears in a special issue of Nuclear Instruments and Methods A.The last 20 years has seen different stages of FEL development. In these proceedings the reader will find descriptions of many new facilities, new experimental results, new applications, new theoretical developments and new simulation results. Attention is also focussed on the recent progress in experimental observations SASE. The contributions are from 150 scientists from 13 countries, ensuring broad, up-to-date research results from a dynamic field.

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