Optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser–electron scattering
Laser–electron beam collisions that aim to generate electron–positron pairs require laser intensities I ≳ 10 ^21 W cm ^−2 , which can be obtained by focusing a 1-PW optical laser to a spot smaller than 10 μ m. Spatial synchronization is a challenge because of the Poynting instability that can be a c...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | New Journal of Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ac2e83 |
| _version_ | 1797749967151955968 |
|---|---|
| author | Óscar Amaro Marija Vranic |
| author_facet | Óscar Amaro Marija Vranic |
| author_sort | Óscar Amaro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Laser–electron beam collisions that aim to generate electron–positron pairs require laser intensities I ≳ 10 ^21 W cm ^−2 , which can be obtained by focusing a 1-PW optical laser to a spot smaller than 10 μ m. Spatial synchronization is a challenge because of the Poynting instability that can be a concern both for the interacting electron beam (if laser-generated) and the scattering laser. One strategy to overcome this problem is to use an electron beam coming from an accelerator (e.g., the planned E-320 experiment at FACET-II). Even using a stable accelerator beam, the plane wave approximation is too simplistic to describe the laser–electron scattering. This work extends analytical scaling laws for pair production, previously derived for the case of a plane wave and a short electron beam. We consider a focused laser beam colliding with electron beams of different shapes and sizes. The results take the spatial and temporal synchronization of the interaction into account, can be extended to arbitrary beam shapes, and prescribe the optimization strategies for near-future experiments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:27:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2111bdf9acc64c19a6b95db8e1bc0381 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1367-2630 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:27:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Journal of Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-2111bdf9acc64c19a6b95db8e1bc03812023-08-08T15:39:50ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302021-01-01231111500110.1088/1367-2630/ac2e83Optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser–electron scatteringÓscar Amaro0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0615-0686Marija Vranic1GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa , 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalGoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa , 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalLaser–electron beam collisions that aim to generate electron–positron pairs require laser intensities I ≳ 10 ^21 W cm ^−2 , which can be obtained by focusing a 1-PW optical laser to a spot smaller than 10 μ m. Spatial synchronization is a challenge because of the Poynting instability that can be a concern both for the interacting electron beam (if laser-generated) and the scattering laser. One strategy to overcome this problem is to use an electron beam coming from an accelerator (e.g., the planned E-320 experiment at FACET-II). Even using a stable accelerator beam, the plane wave approximation is too simplistic to describe the laser–electron scattering. This work extends analytical scaling laws for pair production, previously derived for the case of a plane wave and a short electron beam. We consider a focused laser beam colliding with electron beams of different shapes and sizes. The results take the spatial and temporal synchronization of the interaction into account, can be extended to arbitrary beam shapes, and prescribe the optimization strategies for near-future experiments.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ac2e83particle-in-celllaser–electron interactionelectron–positron pair production |
| spellingShingle | Óscar Amaro Marija Vranic Optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser–electron scattering New Journal of Physics particle-in-cell laser–electron interaction electron–positron pair production |
| title | Optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser–electron scattering |
| title_full | Optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser–electron scattering |
| title_fullStr | Optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser–electron scattering |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser–electron scattering |
| title_short | Optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser–electron scattering |
| title_sort | optimal laser focusing for positron production in laser electron scattering |
| topic | particle-in-cell laser–electron interaction electron–positron pair production |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ac2e83 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oscaramaro optimallaserfocusingforpositronproductioninlaserelectronscattering AT marijavranic optimallaserfocusingforpositronproductioninlaserelectronscattering |