Transverse X-ray radiation from petawatt-laser-driven electron acceleration in a gas cell

• Published in: Journal of the Korean Physical Society Vol. 82; no. 5; pp. 455 - 461
• Main Authors: Pak, Tae Gyu, Rhee, Yong Joo, Mirzaie, Mohammad, Hojbota, Calin Ioan, Jeon, Jong Ho, Jo, Sung Ha, Nam, Chang Hee, Rezaei-Pandari, Mohammad, Sung, Jae Hee, Lee, Seong Ku, Kim, Ki Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Physical Society 01.03.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bremsstrahlung; Electron acceleration; Lasers; Mathematical and Computational Physics; Original Paper - Fluids; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Plasma and Phenomenology; Spectrometers; Theoretical; X-rays; 07.85.Nc; 41.75.Jv; Laser produced plasma; Laser wakefield acceleration; 52.38.Kd; X-ray spectrometer; 52.38.Ph; 41.60.-m
• ISSN: 0374-4884; 1976-8524
• DOI: 10.1007/s40042-023-00730-z

We measure X-rays emitted perpendicular to the laser propagation direction in petawatt-laser-driven wakefield acceleration of electrons in a gas cell. Multi-mega-electronvolt electrons are ejected in the transverse direction by laser-driven plasma wakefields, generating bremsstrahlung X-rays when they encounter a dense medium such as a gas-cell window. The X-rays, detected and characterized by two separate filter-stack spectrometers containing a series of imaging plates, exhibit peak energy fluences at ~ 150–200 keV. The mechanism of electron acceleration in the transverse direction and subsequent bremsstrahlung X-ray generation is also examined and confirmed using particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo FLUKA simulations.