Dispersion interference in the pulsed-wire measurement method

Abstract The magnetic profile of the wiggler to be used in the planned Weizmann Institute FEL has been measured using the pulsed-wire method. The main transverse deflection pattern caused by an electrical current pulse in a wire placed along the wiggler was sometimes accompanied by minor faster and slower parasitic components. These components interfered with the main profile, resulting in distorted mapping of the wiggler magnetic field. Their periodical structure being very close to the main pattern could not be easily resolved by applying a numerical Fourier transform. A strong correlation between the wire tension and the amplitude of the parasitic patterns was found. Significant damping of these oscillations was achieved by applying high enough tension to the wire (close the yield point), allowing to disregard their contribution to the measurement accuracy.