Time-dependent measurements on the superconducting accelerator free-electron laser

Since its invention in 1970, the Free Electron Laser has been the subject of a large amount of theoretical research, however the small number of operating FELs has limited the amount of experimental research that has been done. The Stanford Superconducting Accelerator Free Electron Laser (SCA/FEL) is well suited to FEL experiments because of its stability. This thesis work consisted of the construction of an optical measurement system for the FEL and the use of that system along with existing electron beam diagnostics to make a detailed characterization of the operation of the SCA/FEL. Detailed measurements of stability and beam quality were performed, including the first direct observation of transform limited operation of an FEL. Measurements of the time evolution of the optical spectrum of the FEL were made under chaotic operating conditions. The results of these measurements were compared with existing FEL theory and computer simulations.