Bright attosecond γ-ray pulses from nonlinear Compton scattering with laser-illuminated compound targets

摘要

Attosecond light sources have the potential to open up totally unexplored research avenues in ultrafast science. However, the photon energies achievable using existing generation schemes are limited to the keV range. Here, we propose and numerically demonstrate an all-optical mechanism for the generation of bright MeV attosecond gamma-photon beams with desirable angular momentum. Using a circularly polarized Laguerre-Gaussian laser pulse focused onto a cone-foil target, dense attosecond bunches (less than or similar to 170 as) of electrons are produced. The electrons interact with the laser pulse which is reflected by a plasma mirror, producing ultra-brilliant (similar to 10(23) photons/s/mm(2)/mrad(2)/0.1% BW) multi-MeV (E-gamma,E-max 30 MeV) isolated attosecond (less than or similar to 260 as) gamma-ray pulse trains. Moreover, the angular momentum is transferred to gamma-photon beams via nonlinear Compton scattering of ultra-intense tightly focused laser pulse by energetic electrons. Such a brilliant attosecond gamma-photon source would provide the possibilities in attosecond nuclear science. Published by AIP Publishing.