A proposal for an efficient multimegajoule free-electron laser amplifier utilizing nonlinear forces

A proposal is made for a new type of free-electron laser amplifier based on recent experimental results which have confirmed the long-predicted nonlinear interaction between intense electromagnetic fields and charged particles. The proposed free-electron laser amplifier is very efficient and capable of generating multimegajoule output pulses at a rate required for economical energy production by laser fusion.