Generation of 9 MeV γ-rays by all-laser-driven Compton scattering with second-harmonic laser light

Authors

Cheng Liu, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Grigory V. Golovin, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Shouyuan Chen, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jun Zhang, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Baozhen Zhao, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Daniel Haden, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sudeep Banerjee, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jack Silano, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Hugon Karwowski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Donald Umstadter, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

OPTICS LETTERS / Vol. 39, No. 14 / July 15, 2014

Comments

Copyright 2014 Used by permission

Abstract

Gamma-ray photons with energy >9 MeV were produced when second-harmonic-generated laser light (3 eV) inverse-Compton-scattered from a counterpropagating relativistic (∼450 MeV) laser-wakefield-accelerated electron beam. Two laser pulses from the same laser system were used: one to accelerate electrons and one to scatter. Since the two pulses play very different roles in the γ-ray generation process, and thus have different requirements, a novel laser system was developed. It separately and independently optimized the optical properties of the two pulses. This approach also mitigated the deleterious effects on beam focusing that generally accompany nonlinear optics at high peak-power levels.