An Inverse Compton Scattering Radiation Source via Self-Guiding in a Plasma
- Dept. of Physics, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY 10471 (United States)
- Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (United States)
In an inverse-Compton scattering source, in which a relativistic electron beam collides with a high-power laser pulse, the x-ray flux produced is proportional to the brightness of the two beams and the size of their overlap region in three-dimensional space. In vacuum, this overlap is limited by the diffraction of the two beams, but the diffraction limit can be overcome by confining both beams in a plasma guiding channel. A dense, bunched electron beam injected into an underdense plasma will self-guide via 'blowout', in which the beam head creates a focusing ion channel through which the body of the beam is guided; this same channel can also guides a counterpropagating laser beam. Constraints include the need for long laser wavelength (1 to 10 {mu}m) and high beam densities. We present a possible configuration for a gamma-ray source using 180 degree sign Compton scattering in a uniform plasma, including 2D simulation results. Estimated photon yields are up to a factor of 5 larger than in vacuum scattering, with production of nearly 1010 photons per nanocoulomb of electron beam charge.
- OSTI ID:
- 20898712
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 877, Issue 1; Conference: 12. advanced accelerator concepts workshop, Lake Geneva, WI (United States), 10-15 Jul 2006; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2409173; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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