Algorithm for loading shot noise microbunching in multidimensional, free-electron laser simulation codes

We discuss the underlying reasoning behind and the details of the numerical algorithm used in the ginger free-electron laser simulation code to load the initial shot noise microbunching on the electron beam. In particular, we point out that there are some additional subtleties which must be followed for multidimensional codes which are not necessary for one-dimensional formulations. Moreover, requiring that the higher harmonics of the microbunching also be properly initialized with the correct statistics leads to additional complexities. We present some numerical results including the predicted incoherent, spontaneous emission as tests of the shot noise algorithm’s correctness.