Hot Electron and Gamma-Ray Production using the Texas Petawatt Laser irradiating Thick Gold Targets

ORAL

Abstract

We report preliminary experimental results of using the Texas Petawatt laser (TPW) to create relativistic hot electrons and bremsstrahlung gamma-rays by irradiating thick gold targets. Using the f/3 focus in the TC1 target chamber, we focussed TPW to peak intensities of 10$^{19}$ to 10$^{20}$ W/cm$^2$. Results were obtained for gold targets of thicknesses ranging from 1mm to 4 mm. We measured the hot electron and bremsstrahlung gamma-ray spectra in both the front and back of the target. Hot electrons with energies exceeding several tens of MeV were detected. We also measured the gamma-ray angular distribution. This work was supported by DOE grant DE-SC-000-1481.

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Authors

  • Edison Liang

    Rice University

  • Gilliss Dyer

    University of Texas at Austin

  • David Taylor

    Rice University

  • Taylor Clarke

    Rice University

  • Alexander Henderson

    Rice University

  • Xin Wang

    Rice University, Physcis and Astronomy, Rice University

  • Nathan Riley

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Kristina Serratto

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Petr Shagin

    Rice University

  • Todd Ditmire

    The University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Austin