Measurements of high-energy radiation generation from laser-wakefield accelerated electron beams

Schumaker, W. and Sarri, G. and Vargas, M. and Zhao, Z. and Behm, K. and Chvykov, V. and Dromey, B. and Hou, B. and Maksimchuk, A. and Nees, J. and Yanovsky, V. and Zepf, M. and Thomas, A. G. R. and Krushelnick, K. (2014) Measurements of high-energy radiation generation from laser-wakefield accelerated electron beams. Physics of Plasmas, 21 (5). ISSN 1070-664X

Abstract

Using high-energy (similar to 0.5 GeV) electron beams generated by laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA), bremsstrahlung radiation was created by interacting these beams with various solid targets. Secondary processes generate high-energy electrons, positrons, and neutrons, which can be measured shot-to-shot using magnetic spectrometers, short half-life activation, and Compton scattering. Presented here are proof-of-principle results from a high-resolution, high-energy gamma-ray spectrometer capable of single-shot operation, and high repetition rate activation diagnostics. We describe the techniques used in these measurements and their potential applications in diagnosing LWFA electron beams and measuring high-energy radiation from laser-plasma interactions. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.