First Lasing in an Infrared Free Electron Laser at RRCAT, Indore

An Infrared Free Electron Laser (IR-FEL) designed to operate in the 12.5–50 μm wavelength band is presently in an advanced stage of commissioning at the Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore. Here we report results from first experiments on the IR-FEL after installation of its optical cavity, which has resulted in a power output that is ~105 times the expected spontaneous emission power for the beam parameters used in the experiment. The estimated out-coupled peak micro-pulse power during these experiments is ~2 kW. This is the first observed signature of lasing in the IR-FEL, and the first reported lasing in a FEL in India. This communication discusses the development of the IR-FEL, the recent experimental results, and the ongoing efforts to further increase the IR power to the design peak out-coupled power of 2 MW.