Thomson-Backscattered X Rays From Laser-Accelerated Electrons

Journal Article · Fri Jan 13 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.014802· OSTI ID:20775014

Schwoerer, H; Liesfeld, B; Schlenvoigt, H -P; Amthor, K -U; Sauerbrey, R ^[1]

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1. Institut fuer Optik und Quantenelektronik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena (Germany)

We present the first observation of Thomson-backscattered light from laser-accelerated electrons. In a compact, all-optical setup, the ''photon collider,'' a high-intensity laser pulse is focused into a pulsed He gas jet and accelerates electrons to relativistic energies. A counterpropagating laser probe pulse is scattered from these high-energy electrons, and the backscattered x-ray photons are spectrally analyzed. This experiment demonstrates a novel source of directed ultrashort x-ray pulses and additionally allows for time-resolved spectroscopy of the laser acceleration of electrons.

• OSTI ID: 20775014
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 96; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
ELECTRONS
HELIUM
LASERS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
PHOTONS
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PULSES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SPECTROSCOPY
TIME RESOLUTION
VISIBLE RADIATION
X RADIATION
X-RAY SOURCES