An electrostatic accelerator FEL amplifier as a possible microwave power source for linear colliders

Electrostatic-accelerator FELs (free-electron lasers) are well suited to meet economically and efficiently the RF source requirements imposed by the next generation of linear colliders. The authors discuss a scheme whereby a single electrostatic accelerator can deliver ten or more 50-ns, 100-MW FEL pulses to 10 m of a high-gradient (100-MV/m) accelerating structure. With fewer than 1000 electrostatic accelerators, it may be possible to drive a 10-km, 1-TeV linear collider. The conceptual details of the single RF FEL unit are discussed, and possible DC power generation and transmission concepts are reviewed. >