New Frontiers of Direct Laser Acceleration in Megatesla Magnetic Fields

兆特斯拉磁场中直接激光加速的新领域

• 批准号: 1821944
• 负责人: Alexey Arefiev
• 金额: $ 46.4万
• 依托单位: University of California-San Diego
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-12-18 至 2020-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1821944&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: New; Frontiers; Direct; Laser; Acceleration

This project examines analytically and using computer simulations a novel regime in which an unprecedented magnetic field, generated in a laser-irradiated solid density target, enhances acceleration of electrons and, as a result, enables emission of copious very energetic photons. Light-matter interactions at ultra-high intensities are the next frontier of the advanced accelerator research with the potential to enable development of novel accelerators and x-ray sources. This regime has the potential to disrupt existing paradigms and advance accelerator science at a fundamental level. The prospect of generating copious quantities of energetic photons in laser-target interactions is of particular interest due to its many possible applications, including photo-nuclear spectroscopy, radiation therapy, and radio surgery. The study is also of fundamental relevance to astrophysics, as it can pave the way to creation of matter and antimatter from light, thus providing valuable insights into the inner workings of the universe. The project will provide essential student training in accelerator science, plasma physics and high performance computing.The novelty of the regime investigated by this project is that the extreme magnetic field couples three key aspects of laser-plasma interactions at high intensities: relativistic transparency, direct laser acceleration, and synchrotron photon emission. The key questions investigated by the project cover fundamental aspects of electron acceleration in Megatesla-level magnetic fields, including energy scaling with plasma and laser pulse parameters, and the mechanism underpinning generation of such a strong laser-driven magnetic field in a plasma. The project specifically examines the interplay between electron acceleration and photon emission. This interplay is the key feature of this regime, because, while the acceleration enhances the photon emission, the photon emission itself has a strong feedback on the microscopic electron motion. In addition to the synchrotron emission, the project also addresses the role of bremsstrahlung. The bremsstrahlung emission can become relevant due to high plasma density, but the presence of the Megatesla magnetic field can have a profound mitigating effect, suppressing photon emission.

该项目研究分析和使用计算机模拟一种新的制度，其中一个前所未有的磁场，在激光照射的固体密度目标产生，提高电子的加速，因此，使大量的非常高能的光子的发射。超高强度的光-物质相互作用是先进加速器研究的下一个前沿，有可能开发新型加速器和X射线源。 这种制度有可能破坏现有的范式，并在基础层面上推进加速器科学。在激光-靶相互作用中产生大量高能光子的前景由于其许多可能的应用而特别令人感兴趣，包括光核光谱学、放射治疗和放射外科。 这项研究对天体物理学也具有根本意义，因为它可以为从光中创造物质和反物质铺平道路，从而为宇宙的内部运作提供有价值的见解。该项目将为学生提供加速器科学、等离子体物理和高性能计算方面的基本培训。该项目研究的机制的新奇在于，极端磁场耦合了高强度激光-等离子体相互作用的三个关键方面：相对论透明度、直接激光加速和同步加速器光子发射。该项目研究的关键问题涵盖了Megatesla级磁场中电子加速的基本方面，包括等离子体和激光脉冲参数的能量标度，以及等离子体中产生如此强的激光驱动磁场的机制。该项目专门研究电子加速和光子发射之间的相互作用。这种相互作用是这种机制的关键特征，因为，虽然加速增强了光子发射，但光子发射本身对微观电子运动有很强的反馈。除了同步辐射，该项目还解决了韧致辐射的作用。由于等离子体密度高，韧致辐射可能变得相关，但Megatesla磁场的存在可能具有深刻的缓解效果，抑制光子发射。

项目成果

Radiation rebound and quantum splash in electron-laser collisions

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevaccelbeams.22.093401
• 发表时间: 2019-01
• 期刊: Physical Review Accelerators and Beams
• 影响因子: 1.7
• 作者: Z. Gong;R. Hu;J. Q. Yu;Y. Shou;A. Arefiev;X. Yan

Structured targets for detection of Megatesla-level magnetic fields through Faraday rotation of XFEL beams

• DOI: 10.1063/1.5066109
• 发表时间: 2018-09
• 期刊: Physics of Plasmas
• 影响因子: 2.2
• 作者: Tao Wang;T. Toncian;M. Wei;A. Arefiev

The unexpected role of evolving longitudinal electric fields in generating energetic electrons in relativistically transparent plasmas

• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/aae034
• 发表时间: 2018-08
• 期刊: New Journal of Physics
• 影响因子: 3.3
• 作者: L. Willingale;A. Arefiev;G. Williams;G. Williams;Hui-Hwa Chen;F. Dollar;A. Hazi;A. Maksimchuk;M. Manuel;E. Marley;E. Marley;W. Nazarov;T. Zhao;C. Zulick

Leveraging extreme laser-driven magnetic fields for gamma-ray generation and pair production

• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6587/aab222
• 发表时间: 2018-05-01
• 期刊: PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION
• 影响因子: 2.2
• 作者: Jansen, O.;Wang, T.;Arefiev, A. V.
• 通讯作者: Arefiev, A. V.

Interaction of an electron with coherent dipole radiation: Role of convergence and anti-dephasing

电子与相干偶极子辐射的相互作用：会聚和反相移的作用

• DOI: 10.1063/1.5024049
• 发表时间: 2018
• 期刊: Physics of Plasmas
• 影响因子: 2.2
• 作者: Robinson, A. P.;Arefiev, A. V.
• 通讯作者: Arefiev, A. V.