Momentum modulation of a free electron beam with a laser

A Nd : YAG laser has been used to modulate the energy of a free electron beam. With a single pass of the 2−MW laser light through the 100−MeV electrons we have measured a 37−keV increase in the width of the energy spectrum for the particles. The interaction occurred in helium at standard temperature and pressure over a distance corresponding to 105 optical wavelengths, and a phase synchronism condition was maintained by means of the inverse Cerenkov effect. That is, along the direction of motion of the electrons the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave equaled the electron velocity. Therefore, the electrons remained in an electric field of constant phase, resulting in significant energy exchange.