The Strathclyde terahertz to optical pulse source (TOPS)

We describe the newly created free-electron laser facility situated at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, which will produce ultra-short pulse s of high-power electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range. The FEL will be based on a 4 MeV photoinjector producing picosecond 1 nC e lectron pulses and driven by a frequency tripled Ti:sapphire laser thus ens uring synchronism with conventional laser based tuneable sources. A synchro nised multiterawatt Ti:sapphire laser amplifier will be used in the study o f laser/plasma/electron beam interactions and as a plasma based X-ray sourc e. A substantial user commitment has already been made in support of the pr ogramme. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.