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Title: Observation of Nonlinear Compton Scattering

Abstract

This experiment tests Quantum Electrodynamics in the strong field regime. Nonlinear Compton scattering has been observed during the interaction of a 46.6 GeV electron beam with a 10{sup 18} W/cm{sup 2} laser beam. The strength of the field achieved was measured by the parameter {eta} = e{var_epsilon}{sub rms}/{omega}mc = 0.6. Data were collected with infrared and green laser photons and circularly polarized laser light. The timing stabilization achieved between the picosecond laser and electron pulses has {sigma}{sub rms} = 2 ps. A strong signal of electrons that absorbed up to 4 infrared photons (or up to 3 green photons) at the same point in space and time, while emitting a single gamma ray, was observed. The energy spectra of the scattered electrons and the nonlinear dependence of the electron yield on the field strength agreed with the simulation over 3 orders of magnitude. The detector could not resolve the nonlinear Compton scattering from the multiple single Compton scattering which produced rates of scattered electrons of the same order of magnitude. Nevertheless, a simulation has studied this difference and concluded that the scattered electron rates observed could not be accounted for only by multiple ordinary Compton scattering; nonlinear Compton scattering processesmore » are dominant for n {ge} 3.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (US)
OSTI Identifier:
826612
Report Number(s):
SLAC-R-676
TRN: US0403471
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00515
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 19 Dec 2003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; COMPTON EFFECT; ELECTRON BEAMS; ELECTRONS; ENERGY SPECTRA; LASERS; PHOTONS; QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS; SIMULATION; STABILIZATION

Citation Formats

Kotseroglou, T. Observation of Nonlinear Compton Scattering. United States: N. p., 2003. Web. doi:10.2172/826612.
Kotseroglou, T. Observation of Nonlinear Compton Scattering. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/826612
Kotseroglou, T. 2003. "Observation of Nonlinear Compton Scattering". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/826612. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/826612.
@article{osti_826612,
title = {Observation of Nonlinear Compton Scattering},
author = {Kotseroglou, T},
abstractNote = {This experiment tests Quantum Electrodynamics in the strong field regime. Nonlinear Compton scattering has been observed during the interaction of a 46.6 GeV electron beam with a 10{sup 18} W/cm{sup 2} laser beam. The strength of the field achieved was measured by the parameter {eta} = e{var_epsilon}{sub rms}/{omega}mc = 0.6. Data were collected with infrared and green laser photons and circularly polarized laser light. The timing stabilization achieved between the picosecond laser and electron pulses has {sigma}{sub rms} = 2 ps. A strong signal of electrons that absorbed up to 4 infrared photons (or up to 3 green photons) at the same point in space and time, while emitting a single gamma ray, was observed. The energy spectra of the scattered electrons and the nonlinear dependence of the electron yield on the field strength agreed with the simulation over 3 orders of magnitude. The detector could not resolve the nonlinear Compton scattering from the multiple single Compton scattering which produced rates of scattered electrons of the same order of magnitude. Nevertheless, a simulation has studied this difference and concluded that the scattered electron rates observed could not be accounted for only by multiple ordinary Compton scattering; nonlinear Compton scattering processes are dominant for n {ge} 3.},
doi = {10.2172/826612},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/826612}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Dec 19 00:00:00 EST 2003},
month = {Fri Dec 19 00:00:00 EST 2003}
}