Abstract
A -ray source with an intense component around the giant dipole resonance for photonuclear absorption has been obtained via bremsstrahlung of electron bunches driven by a 10-TW tabletop laser. 3D particle-in-cell simulation proves the achievement of a nonlinear regime leading to efficient acceleration of several sequential electron bunches per each laser pulse. The rate of the -ray yield in the giant dipole resonance region () was measured, through the radio activation of a gold sample, to be photons per joule of laser energy. This novel all-optical, compact, and efficient electron- source is suitable for photonuclear studies and medical uses.
- Received 16 November 2007
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.105002
©2008 American Physical Society