Update on BELLA Center laser system development towards a compact Thomson photon source

ORAL

Abstract

Thomson scattering of laser pulses from relativistic electron beams can produce bright, narrow energy-spread MeV photon beams, with relevance to many applications including nuclear nonproliferation. Here we present a 5 Hz, 40 fs, 100 TW class laser system at the BELLA Center, dedicated to this light source development. The system consists of two independently tunable and compressible Ti:Sapphire multipass-amplifier arrays (2.8 J and 0.7 J on target, respectively) with the seed-beam split off just after the common CPA stretcher. Additionally, an independently tunable 40-fs probe beam is available in various configurations. We discuss the system layout, commissioning, performance, stability and alignment procedures to enable stable day-to-day operation and multi-beam experiments. Stable electron beams have been established via ionization injection with further source development and Thomson scattering experiments underway.

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Authors

  • Tobias Ostermayr

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Hai-En Tsai

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • William Wallace

    LBNL, UC Berkeley

  • Kailtlin Deering

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Robert Ettelbrick

    Bay Optics, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Jeroen van Tilborg

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

  • Fumika Isono

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

  • S. K. Barber

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

  • Remi Lehe

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Jean-Luc Vay

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL

  • Anthony Gonsalves

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBL, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

  • Kei Nakamura

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

  • Csaba Toth

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Carl Schroeder

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

  • Cameron Geddes

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley Nat. Lab., LBNL, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

  • Eric Esarey

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA