A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams

G. Sarri; W. Schumaker; A. Di Piazza; M. Vargas; B. Dromey; M. E. Dieckmann; V. Chvykov; A. Maksimchuk; V. Yanovsky; Z. H. He; B. X. Hou; J. A. Nees; A. G. R. Thomas; C. H. Keitel; M. Zepf; K. Krushelnick

doi:10.1117/12.2018744

7 May 2013 A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams

G. Sarri, W. Schumaker, A. Di Piazza, M. Vargas, B. Dromey, M. E. Dieckmann, V. Chvykov, A. Maksimchuk, V. Yanovsky, Z. H. He, B. X. Hou, J. A. Nees, A. G. R. Thomas, C. H. Keitel, M. Zepf, K. Krushelnick

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8779, Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III; 87790Z (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018744
Event: SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics, 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

An ultra-relativistic electron beam passing through a thick, high-Z solid target triggers an electromagnetic cascade, whereby a large number of high energy photons and electron-positron pairs are produced. By exploiting this physical process, we present here the first experimental evidence of the generation of ultra-short, highly collimated and ultra-relativistic positron beams following the interaction of a laser-wakefield accelerated electron beam with high-Z solid targets. Clear evidence has also been obtained of the generation of GeV electron-positron jets with variable composition depending on the solid target material and thickness. The percentage of positrons in the overall leptonic beam has been observed to vary from a few per cent up to almost fifty per cent, implying a quasi-neutral electron-positron beam. We anticipate that these beams will be of direct relevance to the laboratory study of astrophysical leptonic jets and their interaction with the interstellar medium.

Citation Download Citation

G. Sarri, W. Schumaker, A. Di Piazza, M. Vargas, B. Dromey, M. E. Dieckmann, V. Chvykov, A. Maksimchuk, V. Yanovsky, Z. H. He, B. X. Hou, J. A. Nees, A. G. R. Thomas, C. H. Keitel, M. Zepf, and K. Krushelnick "A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams", Proc. SPIE 8779, Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III, 87790Z (7 May 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018744

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