Dense High e$+$/e- Ratio Pair Creation using the Texas Petawatt Laser

ORAL

Abstract

We report results of pair creation experiments using $\sim$ 100 Joule pulses of the Texas Petawatt Laser to irradiate solid gold and platinum targets, with intensities up to 1.9x10$^{21}$W.cm$^{-2}$ and pulse durations as short as 130 fs. Positron to electron (e$+$/e-) ratios exceeding 15{\%} were observed for many thick disks ( $\ge $4mm) and long narrow rod targets, with the highest observed e$+$/e- ratio approaching 50{\%} for a Pt rod. The inferred pair yield was few x10 $^{10}$ with emerging pair density reaching 10$^{15}$/cc so that the pair skin depth becomes \textless pair jet transverse size, the minimum criterion for the pairs to become a ``plasma.'' These results represent important milestones towards the goal of creating a significant quantity of dense pair-dominated plasma with e$+$/e- approaching 100{\%} and pair skin depth \textless \textless pair plasma size, which will have wide-ranging applications to astrophysics, fundamental physics and innovative technologies. We will discuss some of these potential applications.

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Authors

  • Edison Liang

    • Rice University

  • Alexander Henderson

    • Rice University

  • Wen Fu

    • Rice University

  • Taylor Clarke

    • Rice University

  • Devin Taylor

    • University of Wisconsin

  • Willie Lo

    • Rice University

  • Petr Chaguine

    • Rice University

  • Hannah Hasson

    • Rice University and University of Texas at Austin

  • Gillis Dyer

    • University of Texas, Austin
    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Kristina Serratto

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Nathan Riley

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Michael Donovan

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Todd Ditmire

    • University of Texas at Austin