Gamma-ray generation in ultrahigh-intensity laser-foil interactions
- Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Ulyanov St., Nizhny Novgorod 603950 (Russian Federation)
- Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf 40225 (Germany)
- University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod 603950 (Russian Federation)
Incoherent photon emission by ultrarelativistic electrons in the normal incidence of a laser pulse on a foil is investigated by means of three-dimensional numerical simulations in the range of intensities 2 × 10{sup 21}–2 × 10{sup 25} W cm{sup −2} and electron densities 2 × 10{sup 22}–1 × 10{sup 24} cm{sup −3}. We focus on properties of the resulting synchrotron radiation, such as its overall energy, directivity of the radiation pattern, and slope of the energy spectrum. Regimes of laser-foil interactions are studied in the framework of a simple analytical model. The laser-plasma parameters for efficient gamma-ray generation are found and revealed to be close to the parameters for relativistic foil motion. It is shown that in the case of oblique incidence of a 3 PW, 10 fs laser pulse on a thin foil about 10{sup 8} photons/0.1% bandwidth are produced at the energy level of 1 MeV that significantly exceeds performance of the modern Compton gamma-ray sources. Various applications of the gamma-ray bunches are discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 22252123
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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