Feasibility studies of an all-optical and compact γ-ray blaster using a 1 PW laser pulse

Abstract

Recently, the all-optical Compton laser backscattering setup has become a promising approach in producing high-quality γ-rays. However, this method only produces a single γ-ray beam. In this paper, we report on the numerical study for the feasibility of producing double γ-ray beams using a 1 PW laser. Our method utilizes the all-optical setup with a structured solid target as a reflecting foil. The laser pulse is reflected by the foil after propagating a few millimeters into the underdense plasma. The reflected laser intensity is strongly boosted by the foil to invoke a radiation reaction as nonlinear Compton backscattering. Subsequently, the electron bunch traverses the foil, generating bremsstrahlung. Our simulation results show that a collimated γ-ray beam from the nonlinear Compton backscattering with the peak brilliance of 6.7×10 20 photons/s/mm 2 /mrad 2 /0.1%BW at 15 MeV is produced. Another collimated γ-ray beam with the peak brilliance of 2.1×10 6 photons/s/mm 2 /mrad 2 /0.1%BW is produced by bremsstrahlung. The combined γ-ray beams act as a blaster and are of particular interest in nuclear interactions induced by high-energy photons.

Enhanced photon emission from a double-layer target at moderate laser intensities

“…As the laser pulse impinges on the over-dense plasma mirror, it is reflected and thus previously accelerated electrons can interact with a counter-propagating laser field that leads to efficient photon emission 5,18 . This double-layer interaction setup can be further optimized by tuning the target properties (density, thickness) with respect to the laser intensity and focal spot radius to create the highest number of high-energy photons [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] .…”