Open AccessIntense, directional and tunable γ-ray emission via relativistic oscillating plasma mirror
Author(s) -
Y. J. Gu,
S. Weber
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.26.019932
Subject(s) - physics , optics , laser , thomson scattering , collimated light , plasma , compton scattering , relativistic electron beam , photon , beam (structure) , pulse duration , electron , plasma acceleration , atomic physics , cathode ray , nuclear physics
A mechanism for high energy γ-photon generation based on laser-plasma accelerator is proposed. The laser pulse with a peak intensity of 10 22 W/cm 2 accelerates the electron beam to GeV by the laser wakefield effect. A solid Aluminium target serves as a plasma mirror which is located at the rear side of a gas jet and reflects the laser pulse. High order harmonics are generated due to the Doppler effect experienced by the incident laser. The collisions of the reflected attosecond pulses and the energetic electron beam provide a large cross section for nonlinear Compton scattering and produce a collimated γ-photon flux. The mechanism generates GeV photons with a pulse duration given by the duration of the electron beam.