Pair and γ-photon production from a thin foil confined by two laser pulses

Electron-positron and γ-photon production by high-intensity laser pulses is investigated for a special target geometry, in which two pulses irradiate a very thin foil (10–100 nm < skin depth) with same intensity from opposite sides. A stationary solution is derived describing foil compression between the two pulses. Circular polarization is chosen such that all electrons and positrons rotate in the plane of the foil. We discuss the laser and target parameters required in order to optimize the $\gamma$ photon and pair production rate. We find a γ-photon intensity of $7\times {10}^{27}/\mathrm{sr}\mathrm{}\mathrm{s}$ and a positron density of $5\times {10}^{22}/{\mathrm{cm}}^3$ when using two 330 fs, $7\times {10}^{21}\hspace{0.5em}{\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^2$ laser pulses.