Feasibility studies of an all-optical and compact γ-ray blaster using a 1 PW laser pulse

Abstract

Recently, the all-optical Compton laser backscattering setup has become a promising approach in producing high-quality γ-rays. However, this method only produces a single γ-ray beam. In this paper, we report on the numerical study for the feasibility of producing double γ-ray beams using a 1 PW laser. Our method utilizes the all-optical setup with a structured solid target as a reflecting foil. The laser pulse is reflected by the foil after propagating a few millimeters into the underdense plasma. The reflected laser intensity is strongly boosted by the foil to invoke a radiation reaction as nonlinear Compton backscattering. Subsequently, the electron bunch traverses the foil, generating bremsstrahlung. Our simulation results show that a collimated γ-ray beam from the nonlinear Compton backscattering with the peak brilliance of 6.7 × 1020 photons/s/mm2/mrad2/0.1% BW at 15 MeV is produced. Another collimated γ-ray beam with the peak brilliance of 2.1 × 106 photons/s/mm2/mrad2/0.1% BW is produced by bremsstrahlung. The combined γ-ray beams act as a blaster and are of particular interest in nuclear interactions induced by high-energy photons.