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Nonlinear Thomson Scattering with Ponderomotive Control

ORAL

Abstract

In nonlinear Thomson scattering, a relativistic electron reflects and reradiates the photons of a laser pulse, converting optical light to x rays or beyond. While this extreme frequency conversion offers a promising source for probing high-energy-density materials and driving uncharted regimes of nonlinear quantum electrodynamics, conventional nonlinear Thomson scattering has inherent trade-offs in its scaling with laser intensity. Here we discover that the ponderomotive control afforded by spatiotemporal pulse shaping enables novel regimes of nonlinear Thomson scattering that substantially enhance the scaling of the radiated power, emission angle, and frequency with laser intensity. By appropriately setting the velocity of the intensity peak, a spatiotemporally shaped pulse can increase the power radiated by orders of magnitude. The enhanced scaling with laser intensity allows for operation at significantly lower electron energies and eliminates the need for a high-energy electron accelerator.

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Presenters

  • Dillon W Ramsey

    University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics

Authors

  • Dillon W Ramsey

    University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics

  • Bernardo F Malaca

    Instituto Superior Tecnico, GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal

  • Antonino Di Piazza

    Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117, Heidelberg, Germany, Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik

  • Martin Formanek

    Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik

  • Philip Franke

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • Dustin H Froula

    University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Lab for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • Miguel Pardal

    Instituto Superior Tecnico

  • Tanner T Simpson

    University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • Jorge Vieira

    Instituto Superior Tecnico, GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal, GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal

  • Kathleen Weichman

    Lab for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • John P Palastro

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Lab for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester