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Title: Intense gamma-ray source based on focused electron beams from a laser wakefield accelerator
Laser wakefield accelerators generate ultrashort electron bunches with the capability to produce γ-rays. Here, we produce focused laser wakefield acceleration electron beams using three quadrupole magnets. Electron beams are then focused into a 3 mm lead converter to generate intense, focused bremsstrahlung γ beams. Experimental results demonstrate the generation and propagation of focused γ beams to a best focus spot size of 2.3 ± 0.1 × 2.7 ± 0.2 mm 2 using a copper stack calorimeter. Monte Carlo simulations conducted using GEANT4 are in good agreement with experimental results and enable detailed examination of γ-ray generation. Simulations indicate that the focused γ beams contained 2.6 × 10 9 photons in the range of 100 keV to 33 MeV with an average energy of 6.4 MeV. A γ-ray intensity of 7 × 10 10 W/cm 2 was estimated from simulations. The generation of focused bremsstrahlung γ-ray sources can have important applications in medical imaging applications and laboratory astrophysics experiments.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2108075
NSF-PAR ID:
10417471
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Applied Physics Letters
Volume:
120
Issue:
26
ISSN:
0003-6951
Page Range / eLocation ID:
264103
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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