Hot Electron and Gamma-Ray Production using the Texas Petawatt Laser irradiating Thick Gold Targets

ORAL

Abstract

We report preliminary experimental results of using the Texas Petawatt laser (TPW) to create relativistic hot electrons and bremsstrahlung gamma-rays by irradiating thick gold targets. Using the f/3 focus in the TC1 target chamber, we focussed TPW to peak intensities of 10$^{19}$ to 10$^{20}$ W/cm$^2$. Results were obtained for gold targets of thicknesses ranging from 1mm to 4 mm. We measured the hot electron and bremsstrahlung gamma-ray spectra in both the front and back of the target. Hot electrons with energies exceeding several tens of MeV were detected. We also measured the gamma-ray angular distribution. This work was supported by DOE grant DE-SC-000-1481.

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Authors

  • Edison Liang

    • Rice University

  • Gilliss Dyer

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • David Taylor

    • Rice University

  • Taylor Clarke

    • Rice University

  • Alexander Henderson

    • Rice University

  • Xin Wang

    • Rice University
    • Physcis and Astronomy, Rice University

  • Nathan Riley

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Kristina Serratto

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Petr Shagin

    • Rice University

  • Todd Ditmire

    • The University of Texas at Austin
    • University of Texas at Austin