Three-dimensional, time-dependent simulation of free-electron lasers

Minerva is a simulation code that models the interaction of electrons with an optical field inside an undulator. Minerva uses a modal expansion for the optical field and the full Newton-Lorentz force equation to track the particles through the optical and magnetic fields. To allow propagation of the optical field outside the undulator and interact with optical elements, MINERVA interfaces with the optical propagation code OPC to mode, for example, FEL oscillators. As there exists a large variety of FELs ranging from long-wavelength oscillators to soft and hard X-ray FELs that are either seeded or starting from noise, a simulation code, such as Minerva, should be capable of modelling this huge variety of FEL configurations. Here we present a validation of the Minerva code against experimental data for various FEL configurations, ranging from long wavelength FEL oscillators to hard X-ray SASE FEL.