Comprehensive z-dependent measurements of electron-beam microbunching using COTR in a saturated SASE FEL

We report the initial, comprehensive set of z-dependent measurements of electron-beam microbunching using coherent optical transition radiation (COTR) in a saturated self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL) experiment. In this case the FEL was operated near 530nm using an enhanced facility including a bunch-compressed photocathode gun electron beam, linac, and 21.6m of undulator length. The longitudinal microbunching was tracked by inserting a metal foil and mirror after each of the nine 2.4-m-long undulators and measuring the visible COTR spectra, intensity, angular, distribution, and spot size. We observed for the first time the z-dependent transition of the COTR spectra from simple lines to complex structure/sidebands near saturation. We also observed the change in the microbunching fraction after saturation, multiple fringes in the COTR interferogram that are consistent with involvement of a smaller core of the e-beam transverse distribution, and the second harmonic content of the microbunching. The results will be compared to relevant calculations using GENESIS and/or GINGER.