Generation of collimated vortex gamma-rays from intense Poincaré beam–plasma interaction

Abstract

We report on numerical calculations in which a multi-petawatt γ-ray beam is generated using a novel configuration based on fully structured light irradiating an overdense plasma waveguide. We analyze how the relativistic laser pulse efficiently confines and accelerates plasma electrons to GeV-scale energies and drives a quasi-static field that induces magneto-bremsstrahlung radiation. Multiphoton Compton scattering of electrons in the intense part of the laser also occurs although the radiated energy-density is comparatively lower. The emitted γ-rays carry orbital angular momentum, are highly collimated, and account for upwards of 15% of the incident field energy in one particular case. A comparison of the laser-to-particle angular momentum and energy transfer efficiencies is made between the cases of irradiation by a circularly polarized Laguerre–Gauss mode and one type of full Poincaré beam, and it is found that the latter yields an order-of-magnitude enhancement. The essential characteristics of the interaction are validated with three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations that include quantum electrodynamical effects.

Petawatt-class gamma bursts driven by next-generation high-intensity lasers

“…SF-QED plasmas are capable of producing copious gammas and pairs. [4][5][6][7][8][9] In this work we consider a particular arrangement where the pairs are in a quasi-guided beam which maintains constant energy while it mediates transfer of energy from laser to gammas.…”

Polarized photoelectrons from converging vector waves

“…An example of this is nonlinear Compton scattering process e + nω → e + γ wherein an electron can absorb multiple photons and then emit a high-energy one [37][38][39][40][41][42]. Simulations of the interaction of laser radiation with tailored plasma indicate that this along with magnetic bremsstrahlung are two processes responsible for generation of high-energy photons covering the range from sub-MeV to ∼1 GeV [43][44][45][46][47][48]. One can thus envisage the availability of high-energy photons for processes such as photoionization and pair creation.…”

Towards bright gamma-ray flash generation from tailored target irradiated by multi-petawatt laser

“…Once an electron (or positron) collides with the incident field it is scattered, resulting in alteration of its momentum and a γ-photon is emitted, in a process known as multiphoton Compton scattering. In the present work, we focus on γ-photons produced via the multiphoton Compton scattering dominating at ultrahigh intensities [30][31][32][33] , produced within a time approximately equal to to the laser pulse duration. Notably, at lower intensities ( < 10 27 Wm −2 ) and significantly thick targets γ-photons can be also produced via Bremsstrahlung emission 34,35 , where the present target geometry limits Bremsstrahlung contribution.…”