Laser-generated γ-ray flash interactions with high-Z target study employing Monte Carlo simulations

It is known that high-power laser pulse interaction with solid targets can result in high-power γ-ray flash emission. We used the γ-photons obtained from PIC (EPOCH) simulation [1] of single-cycle tightly focused laser pulse, reproducing the λ3 regime, irradiating the solid target as a source particles for MC (FLUKA) simulations of their interactions with solid matter. MC simulations can be used to estimate the energy and angular spectra of the post-PIC interacted and generated particles and the radioactive nuclides produced. These simulations can also provide feedback regarding the optimal γ-photons spectrum required for a particular purpose. The lead was chosen as the target material owing to the high cross section of giant dipole resonance and pair production. Potential applications of generated high-energy high-intensity neutrons and positrons are nuclear waste management and applications in medicine, neutron diffraction, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, positron source for further acceleration, electron-positron plasma studies, etc. Activation of residual nuclides can be used for nuclear physics study, astrophysics study, and for direct applications as nuclear medicine.

[1] P. Hadjisolomou, et al. Phys. Rev. E 104, 015203 (2021) and references therein