Characterization of bright betatron radiation generated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in plasma of near critical density

Cikhardt J.; Gyrdymov M.; Zähter S.; Tavana P.; Günther M. M.; Bukharskii N.; Borisenko N.; Jacoby J.; Shen X. F.; Pukhov A.; Andreev N. E.; Rosmej O. N.

doi:10.1063/5.0181119

Volume 9 Issue 2

Mar. 2024

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Cikhardt J., Gyrdymov M., Zähter S., Tavana P., Günther M. M., Bukharskii N., Borisenko N., Jacoby J., Shen X. F., Pukhov A., Andreev N. E., Rosmej O. N.. Characterization of bright betatron radiation generated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in plasma of near critical density[J]. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 2024, 9(2): 027201. doi: 10.1063/5.0181119

Citation:

Cikhardt J., Gyrdymov M., Zähter S., Tavana P., Günther M. M., Bukharskii N., Borisenko N., Jacoby J., Shen X. F., Pukhov A., Andreev N. E., Rosmej O. N.. Characterization of bright betatron radiation generated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in plasma of near critical density[J]. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 2024, 9(2): 027201. doi: 10.1063/5.0181119

Citation:

Cikhardt J., Gyrdymov M., Zähter S., Tavana P., Günther M. M., Bukharskii N., Borisenko N., Jacoby J., Shen X. F., Pukhov A., Andreev N. E., Rosmej O. N.. Characterization of bright betatron radiation generated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in plasma of near critical density[J]. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 2024, 9(2): 027201. doi: 10.1063/5.0181119

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Characterization of bright betatron radiation generated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in plasma of near critical density

doi: 10.1063/5.0181119

Cikhardt J.^{1
,
,
,},
Gyrdymov M.^2
,,
Zähter S.^{3, 4
,},
Tavana P.^2
,,
Günther M. M.³,
Bukharskii N.^{5, 6
,},
Borisenko N.⁶,
Jacoby J.²,
Shen X. F.⁷,
Pukhov A.^7
,,
Andreev N. E.^{8, 9
,},
Rosmej O. N.^{2, 3
,}

1.
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, 16627 Prague 6, Czech Republic
2.
Goethe University, Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
3.
GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Planckstraße 1, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
4.
Focused Energy GmbH, Im Tiefen See 45, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
5.
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Kashirskoe shosse 31, 115409 Moscow, Russian Federation
6.
Lebedev Physical Institute RAS, Leninskiy Prospekt 53, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
7.
Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, Düsseldorf, Germany
8.
Joint Institute for High Temperatures, RAS, Izhorskaya st. 13, Bldg. 2, 125412 Moscow, Russian Federation
9.
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok 9, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia

More Information

Corresponding author: a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: cikhajak@fel.cvut.cz
Received Date: 2023-10-14
Accepted Date: 2024-01-16

Available Online: 2024-03-01

Publish Date: 2024-03-01

Abstract

Abstract

Directed x-rays produced in the interaction of sub-picosecond laser pulses of moderate relativistic intensity with plasma of near-critical density are investigated. Synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation occurs in the process of direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in a relativistic laser channel when the electrons undergo transverse betatron oscillations in self-generated quasi-static electric and magnetic fields. In an experiment at the PHELIX laser system, high-current directed beams of DLA electrons with a mean energy ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential and maximum energy up to 100 MeV were measured at 10¹⁹ W/cm² laser intensity. The spectrum of directed x-rays in the range of 5–60 keV was evaluated using two sets of Ross filters placed at 0° and 10° to the laser pulse propagation axis. The differential x-ray absorption method allowed for absolute measurements of the angular-dependent photon fluence. We report 10¹³ photons/sr with energies >5 keV measured at 0° to the laser axis and a brilliance of 10²¹ photons s⁻¹ mm⁻² mrad⁻² (0.1%BW)⁻¹. The angular distribution of the emission has an FWHM of 14°–16°. Thanks to the ultra-high photon fluence, point-like radiation source, and ultra-short emission time, DLA-based keV backlighters are promising for various applications in high-energy-density research with kilojoule petawatt-class laser facilities.

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References(60)

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