Design and Initial Operation of a Tunable Compton-Scattering Based Gamma-Ray Source

POSTER

Abstract

Tunable, monochromatic gamma-ray sources are currently being developed at LLNL for nuclear photo-science and related applications. These novel systems are based on Compton scattering of laser photons by a high brightness relativistic electron beam produced by an rf photoinjector and offer a path to high-brightness high-energy ($>$ 1 MeV) x-ray {\&} gamma-rays due to their favorable scaling with electron energy. The current demonstration source, called the ``Thomson-Radiated Extreme X-Ray" (T-REX) source, targets photon energies up to 1 MeV. With extensive modeling using PARMELA and well-benchmarked custom Compton-scattering simulation codes, the optimal design parameters for an interaction (including factors such as the collision angle, focal spot size, bunch charge, laser intensity, pulse duration, and laser beam path) can be determined. Here we present the results of this optimization, including early experimental results from the newly commissioned system.

*This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract No. W-7405-Eng-48.

Authors

  • David Gibson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Scott Anderson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Shawn Betts

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Micah Johnson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Dennis McNabb

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Mike Messerly

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jason Pruet

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Miroslav Shverdin

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Aaron Tremaine

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Fred Hartemann

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Craig Siders

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Chris Barty

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory