Extreme Gamma-Ray Flash in the λ3 Regime
POSTER
Abstract
During the next decades lasers with power approximately 100 petawatt are expected. These
lasers can provide the ultralelativistic intensities needed to study the collective behaviour of
γ-photons and electron-positron pairs. These ultralelativistic intensities can be achieved by focusing
down the laser beam to the sub-wavelength limit. In the past, a preplasma was found to
increase the g-photon energy conversion efficiency [1, 2]. In the present work, we employ three
dimensional quantum electrodynamic [3] particle in cell simulations where a single-cycle pulse
is focused by an 1/3 f-number parabola to a spherical-like field, in the so-called λ3 regime
[4]. The field interacts with a steep gradient foil target, resulting in a laser to γ-photon energy
conversion efficiency of almost 50 % at a laser intensity of 1025 W cm−2. A multiparametric
study on the target thickness and electron number density is performed. In addition, the dependency
on the laser polarisation is studied, revealing that a radially polarised laser is beneficial
on γ-photon generation compared to both linearly and azimuthally polarised lasers. The effect
of altering the laser power in the range 1−300 PW is also studied, revealing a region where a
prolific electron-positron pair generation happens, while γ-photon energy conversion efficiency
saturates. Finally, further interactions of the γ-photon flash with high-Z materials is studied by
the use of Mote-Carlo simulations.
References:
[1] T. Nakamura et al., Phys. Re. Lett. 108, 195001 (2012)
[2] K. V. Lezhnin et al., Phys. Plasmas 25, 123105 (2018)
[3] C. P. Ridgers et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 165006 (2012)
[4] G. Mourou et al., Plasma Phys. Rep. 28, 12 (2002)
[5] P. Hadjisolomou et al., Phys. Rev. E 104, 015203 (2021)
lasers can provide the ultralelativistic intensities needed to study the collective behaviour of
γ-photons and electron-positron pairs. These ultralelativistic intensities can be achieved by focusing
down the laser beam to the sub-wavelength limit. In the past, a preplasma was found to
increase the g-photon energy conversion efficiency [1, 2]. In the present work, we employ three
dimensional quantum electrodynamic [3] particle in cell simulations where a single-cycle pulse
is focused by an 1/3 f-number parabola to a spherical-like field, in the so-called λ3 regime
[4]. The field interacts with a steep gradient foil target, resulting in a laser to γ-photon energy
conversion efficiency of almost 50 % at a laser intensity of 1025 W cm−2. A multiparametric
study on the target thickness and electron number density is performed. In addition, the dependency
on the laser polarisation is studied, revealing that a radially polarised laser is beneficial
on γ-photon generation compared to both linearly and azimuthally polarised lasers. The effect
of altering the laser power in the range 1−300 PW is also studied, revealing a region where a
prolific electron-positron pair generation happens, while γ-photon energy conversion efficiency
saturates. Finally, further interactions of the γ-photon flash with high-Z materials is studied by
the use of Mote-Carlo simulations.
References:
[1] T. Nakamura et al., Phys. Re. Lett. 108, 195001 (2012)
[2] K. V. Lezhnin et al., Phys. Plasmas 25, 123105 (2018)
[3] C. P. Ridgers et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 165006 (2012)
[4] G. Mourou et al., Plasma Phys. Rep. 28, 12 (2002)
[5] P. Hadjisolomou et al., Phys. Rev. E 104, 015203 (2021)
Publication: P. Hadjisolomou et al., Phys. Rev. E 104, 015203 (2021)
Presenters
-
Prokopis Hadjisolomou
- ELI Beamlines