Linearly polarized photons from Compton backscattering of laser light for nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments

Abstract

Elastically scattered photons from 208Pb(γ pol, γ) have been measured with completely polarized photons. The polarized photons (laser Compton photons) can be generated by Compton backscattering of laser light. The energy of the polarized LCPs ranges from 1 to 10 MeV by using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and the storage ring TERAS at Electrotechnical Laboratory. We can rotate the polarization axis of the LCPs by using the laser polarization controller to diminish the systematic error in the measurement system. Parities of J = 1 levels in 208Pb, E x = 5.514 and 4.841 MeV, were clearly determined to be negative.