Generation of highly-polarized high-energy brilliant γ-rays via laser-plasma interaction
The generation of highly polarized high-energy brilliant γ-rays via laser–plasma interaction is investigated in the quantum radiation-reaction regime. We employ a quantum electrodynamics particle-in-cell code to describe spin-resolved electron dynamics semiclassically and photon emission and polariz...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIP Publishing LLC
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Matter and Radiation at Extremes |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0007734 |
| Summary: | The generation of highly polarized high-energy brilliant γ-rays via laser–plasma interaction is investigated in the quantum radiation-reaction regime. We employ a quantum electrodynamics particle-in-cell code to describe spin-resolved electron dynamics semiclassically and photon emission and polarization quantum mechanically in the local constant field approximation. As an ultrastrong linearly polarized (LP) laser pulse irradiates a near-critical-density (NCD) plasma followed by an ultrathin planar aluminum target, the electrons in the NCD plasma are first accelerated by the driving laser to ultrarelativistic energies and then collide head-on with the laser pulse reflected by the aluminum target, emitting brilliant LP γ-rays via nonlinear Compton scattering with an average polarization of about 70% and energy up to hundreds of MeV. Such γ-rays can be produced with currently achievable laser facilities and will find various applications in high-energy physics and laboratory astrophysics. |
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| ISSN: | 2468-080X |