Ultra-high brilliance multi-MeV $\gamma$-ray beam from non-linear Thomson scattering

Abstract

We report on the generation of a narrow divergence ($\theta \approx 2.5$ mrad), multi-MeV ($E_{\text{MAX}}=18$ MeV) and ultra-high brilliance ($\approx 2\times 10^{19}$ photons s${}^{-1}$ mm${}^{-2}$ mrad ${}^{-2}$ 0.1\% BW) $\gamma$-ray beam from the scattering of an ultra-relativistic laser-wakefield accelerated electron beam in the field of a relativistically intense laser (dimensionless amplitude $a_0\approx 2$). The spectrum of the generated $\gamma$-ray beam is measured, with MeV resolution, seamlessly from 6 MeV to 18 MeV, giving clear evidence of the onset of non-linear Thomson scattering. The photon source has the highest brilliance in the multi-MeV regime ever reported in the literature.

References in corpus (3)

• Femtosecond x rays from laser-plasma accelerators
• All-optical Compton gamma-ray source
• Design of a Compact Spectrometer for High-Flux MeV Gamma-Ray Beams

Cited by in corpus (16)

• Note on the conjectured breakdown of QED perturbation theory in strong fields
• Compact tunable Compton x-ray source from laser-plasma accelerator and plasma mirror
• Signatures of quantum effects on radiation reaction in laser -- electron-beam collisions
• Scaling laws for positron production in laser--electron-beam collisions
• Narrowband inverse Compton scattering x-ray sources at high laser intensities
• Electron - positron cascades in multiple-laser optical traps
• Optimizing Laser Pulses for Narrowband Inverse Compton Sources in the High-Intensity Regime
• Focussing effects in laser-electron Thomson scattering
• Strong-Field QED Experiments using the BELLA PW Laser Dual Beamlines
• Measuring quantum radiation reaction in laser--electron-beam collisions
• Angle-dependent pair production in the polarized two-photon Breit-Wheeler process
• Are we ready to transfer optical light to gamma-rays?
• Global constant field approximation for radiation reaction in collision of high-intensity laser pulse with electron beam
• Quasi-monochromatic bright gamma-ray generation from synchronized Compton scattering via azimuthal spatial-temporal coupling
• Tunable X-ray source by Thomson scattering during laser-wakefield acceleration
• An inverse free electron laser acceleration-driven Compton scattering X-ray source