TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultra-intense gamma-rays created using the Texas Petawatt Laser
AU - Henderson, Alexander
AU - Liang, Edison
AU - Riley, Nathan
AU - Yepes, Pablo
AU - Dyer, Gillis
AU - Serratto, Kristina
AU - Shagin, Petr
PY - 2014/9
Y1 - 2014/9
N2 - In a series of experiments at the Texas Petawatt Laser (TPW) in Austin, TX, we have used attenuation spectrometers, dosimeters, and a new Forward Compton Electron Spectrometer (FCES) to measure and characterize the angular distribution, flux, and energy spectrum of the X-rays and gamma rays produced by the TPW striking multi-millimeter thick gold targets. Our results represent the first such measurements at laser intensities ≥1021W×cm-2 and pulse durations ≤150fs. We obtain a maximum yield of X-ray and gamma ray energy with respect to laser energy of 4% and a mean yield of 2%. We further obtain a Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) of the gamma angular distribution of 33°. We were able to characterize the gamma-ray spectrum from 3MeV to 50MeV using a Forward Compton Electron Spectrometer, with an energy resolution of 10-15% and mean bremsstrahlung effective kT of ~6MeV. We were able to characterize the spectrum from 1 to 5MeV using a Filter Stack (attenuation) Spectrometer, measuring a mean X-ray temperature for the spectrum from 3 to 5MeV of 2.1MeV, suggesting that the low-energy gammas are bremsstrahlung from secondary electrons.
AB - In a series of experiments at the Texas Petawatt Laser (TPW) in Austin, TX, we have used attenuation spectrometers, dosimeters, and a new Forward Compton Electron Spectrometer (FCES) to measure and characterize the angular distribution, flux, and energy spectrum of the X-rays and gamma rays produced by the TPW striking multi-millimeter thick gold targets. Our results represent the first such measurements at laser intensities ≥1021W×cm-2 and pulse durations ≤150fs. We obtain a maximum yield of X-ray and gamma ray energy with respect to laser energy of 4% and a mean yield of 2%. We further obtain a Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) of the gamma angular distribution of 33°. We were able to characterize the gamma-ray spectrum from 3MeV to 50MeV using a Forward Compton Electron Spectrometer, with an energy resolution of 10-15% and mean bremsstrahlung effective kT of ~6MeV. We were able to characterize the spectrum from 1 to 5MeV using a Filter Stack (attenuation) Spectrometer, measuring a mean X-ray temperature for the spectrum from 3 to 5MeV of 2.1MeV, suggesting that the low-energy gammas are bremsstrahlung from secondary electrons.
KW - Gamma rays
KW - Laser-solid interactions
KW - Petawatt lasers
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U2 - 10.1016/j.hedp.2014.06.004
DO - 10.1016/j.hedp.2014.06.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84907324570
SN - 1574-1818
VL - 12
SP - 46
EP - 56
JO - High Energy Density Physics
JF - High Energy Density Physics
ER -