Time-domain measurement of a self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser with an energy-chirped electron beam and undulator tapering

We report, with an unequivocal time-domain measurement, that an appropriately chosen undulator taper can compensate for an electron beam longitudinal energy-chirp in a free-electron laser amplifier, leading to the generation of single-spike radiation close to the Fourier limit. The measurements were taken using the frequency-resolved optical gating technique by employing an advanced transient-grating diagnostic geometry. The reconstructed longitudinal radiation characteristics are compared in detail to prediction from time-dependent three-dimensional simulations.