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

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

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

2 Citations (Scopus)

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-wake field 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.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Editors	E Esarey, CB Schroeder, WP Leemans, KWD Ledingham, DA Jaroszynski
Place of Publication	BELLINGHAM
Publisher	SPIE - INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING
Number of pages	7
Volume	8779
ISBN (Print)	9780819495815
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018744
Publication status	Published - Dec 2013
Event	Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III - Prague, Czech Republic Duration: 15 Apr 2013 → 18 Apr 2013

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE
Publisher	SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING
Volume	8779
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X

Conference

Conference	Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III
Country	Czech Republic
City	Prague
Period	15/04/2013 → 18/04/2013

Keywords

pair production
electron-positron beams
laser
astrophysical jets
ELECTRON-BEAMS
GENERATION
ACCELERATION
FEMTOSECOND
SHOCK

Access to Document

10.1117/12.2018744

Cite this

Sarri, G., Schumaker, W., Di Piazza, A., Vargas, M., Dromey, B., Dieckmann, M. E., Chvykov, V., Maksimchuk, A., Yanovsky, V., He, Z. H., Hou, B. X., Nees, J. A., Thomas, A. G. R., Keitel, C. H., Zepf, M., & Krushelnick, K. (2013). A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams. In E. Esarey, CB. Schroeder, WP. Leemans, KWD. Ledingham, & DA. Jaroszynski (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering (Vol. 8779). [87790Z] (Proceedings of SPIE; Vol. 8779). SPIE - INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018744

Sarri, G. ; Schumaker, W. ; Di Piazza, A. ; Vargas, M. ; Dromey, B. ; Dieckmann, M. E. ; Chvykov, V. ; Maksimchuk, A. ; Yanovsky, V. ; He, Z. H. ; Hou, B. X. ; Nees, J. A. ; Thomas, A. G R ; Keitel, C. H. ; Zepf, M. ; Krushelnick, K. / A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. editor / E Esarey ; CB Schroeder ; WP Leemans ; KWD Ledingham ; DA Jaroszynski. Vol. 8779 BELLINGHAM : SPIE - INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING, 2013. (Proceedings of SPIE).

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

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-wake field 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.",

keywords = "pair production, electron-positron beams, laser, astrophysical jets, ELECTRON-BEAMS, GENERATION, ACCELERATION, FEMTOSECOND, SHOCK",

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

year = "2013",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1117/12.2018744",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780819495815",

volume = "8779",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE",

publisher = "SPIE - INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING",

editor = "E Esarey and CB Schroeder and WP Leemans and KWD Ledingham and DA Jaroszynski",

booktitle = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

note = "Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III ; Conference date: 15-04-2013 Through 18-04-2013",

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Sarri, G, Schumaker, W, Di Piazza, A, Vargas, M, Dromey, B, Dieckmann, ME, Chvykov, V, Maksimchuk, A, Yanovsky, V, He, ZH, Hou, BX, Nees, JA, Thomas, AGR, Keitel, CH, Zepf, M & Krushelnick, K 2013, A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams. in E Esarey, CB Schroeder, WP Leemans, KWD Ledingham & DA Jaroszynski (eds), Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. vol. 8779, 87790Z, Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 8779, SPIE - INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING, BELLINGHAM, Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III, Prague, Czech Republic, 15/04/2013. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018744

A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams. / Sarri, G.; Schumaker, W.; Di Piazza, A.; Vargas, M.; Dromey, B.; Dieckmann, M. E.; Chvykov, V.; Maksimchuk, A.; Yanovsky, V.; He, Z. H.; Hou, B. X.; Nees, J. A.; Thomas, A. G R; Keitel, C. H.; Zepf, M.; Krushelnick, K.

Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. ed. / E Esarey; CB Schroeder; WP Leemans; KWD Ledingham; DA Jaroszynski. Vol. 8779 BELLINGHAM : SPIE - INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING, 2013. 87790Z (Proceedings of SPIE; Vol. 8779).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams

AU - Sarri, G.

AU - Schumaker, W.

AU - Di Piazza, A.

AU - Vargas, M.

AU - Dromey, B.

AU - Dieckmann, M. E.

AU - Chvykov, V.

AU - Maksimchuk, A.

AU - Yanovsky, V.

AU - He, Z. H.

AU - Hou, B. X.

AU - Nees, J. A.

AU - Thomas, A. G R

AU - Keitel, C. H.

AU - Zepf, M.

AU - Krushelnick, K.

PY - 2013/12

Y1 - 2013/12

N2 - 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-wake field 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.

AB - 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-wake field 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.

KW - pair production

KW - electron-positron beams

KW - laser

KW - astrophysical jets

KW - ELECTRON-BEAMS

KW - GENERATION

KW - ACCELERATION

KW - FEMTOSECOND

KW - SHOCK

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U2 - 10.1117/12.2018744

DO - 10.1117/12.2018744

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9780819495815

VL - 8779

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE

BT - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

A2 - Esarey, E

A2 - Schroeder, CB

A2 - Leemans, WP

A2 - Ledingham, KWD

A2 - Jaroszynski, DA

PB - SPIE - INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING

CY - BELLINGHAM

T2 - Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III

Y2 - 15 April 2013 through 18 April 2013

ER -

Sarri G, Schumaker W, Di Piazza A, Vargas M, Dromey B, Dieckmann ME et al. A table-top laser-based source of short, collimated, ultra-relativistic positron beams. In Esarey E, Schroeder CB, Leemans WP, Ledingham KWD, Jaroszynski DA, editors, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. Vol. 8779. BELLINGHAM: SPIE - INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING. 2013. 87790Z. (Proceedings of SPIE). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018744