Abstract

The inverse Smith-Purcell (ISP) effect (Fig. 1) is a candidate for a laser-driven linear accelerator [1]. It uses a metallic grating as an interaction circuit. The potential accelerating gradients are several GeV/m. Previously, we used a submillimeter wave (SMM) laser as a driving source to demonstrate the ISP for the first time in 1987 [2]. Since then, we have improved the signal-to-noise ratio in the electron energy measurements so that we have been able to verify the theoretical predictions in more detail.

© 1988 Optical Society of America