Experimental observation of radiation frequency tuning in “OLSE-10” prototype of volume free electron laser

Feasibility of the conception of the volume free electron laser was verified by “OLSE-10” experimental prototype. Measurements of key parameters of the microwave radiation of the prototype have confirmed the features predicted theoretically. Possibility of smooth tuning of the radiation frequency and decrease of the threshold current density in a volume free electron laser are demonstrated. The set of VFEL characteristics showed that it might be the prospective source of tuneable polarized radiation in the microwave and Terahertz ranges [V.G. Baryshevsky, K.G. Batrakov, A.A. Gurinovich, et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 507 (2003) 137; V.G. Baryshevsky, A.A. Gurinovich, LANL e-print archive: physics/0409107; V.G. Baryshevsky et al., LANL e-print archive: physics/0409125]. Application of radiation of these wavelength ranges in science and engineering is highly challenging.