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Progress on Laser-Driven MeV Electron-Positron Pair Experiments

ORAL

Abstract

Relativistic electron-positron (pair) plasmas have unique properties due to their mass symmetry and may play an important role in energetic astrophysics. High-energy ps laser-target interactions have produced a large number (1010 – 1012) of positrons in a small volume (< 3 mm3) [1]. We have recently made significant progress in three areas of manipulating and optimizing these relativistic pairs: a) designed a magnetic mirror using pulsed-power-driven 13 T solenoids and validated the effectiveness of  the magnetic mirror by trapping MeV pairs for ns-timescales [2]; b) created a collimated charge-neutral pair beam [3] using a magnetic lens; c) realized pair yield enhancement by a factor of 2 using a micro-structured target [4]. These results and future plans will be presented. 

References

[1] H. Chen, et al., PRL (2015); H. Chen, et al., Phys. Plasmas (2015).

[2] J. von der Linden, et al, Phys. Plasmas, in review (2021)

[3] J. Peebles, et al., Phys. Plasmas, 28, 074501 (2021)

[4] S. Jiang, et al., Applied Phys. Lett. 118, 094101 (2021)

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Presenters

  • Hui Chen

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL

Authors

  • Hui Chen

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL

  • Matthew R Edwards

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Gennady Fiksel

    University of Michigan

  • Sheng Jiang

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jens Von Der Linden

    IPP, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Garching, Germany

  • Andrew M Longman

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jonathan L Peebles

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

  • Louise Willingale

    University of Michigan