The flying mirror: future brightest x-ray and γ-ray source
Abstract
An ultra-bright high-power X-ray and γ-ray source is proposed. A relativistic flying mirror reflects a counterpropagating electromagnetic radiation causing its frequency multiplication and intensification, while the role of the mirror is played by a solid-density thin plasma slab accelerating in the radiation pressure dominant regime. Frequencies of high harmonics generated at the flying mirror by a relativistically strong counter-propagating radiation undergo multiplication with the same factor as the fundamental frequency of the reflected radiation, approximately equal to the quadruple of the square of the mirror Lorentz factor. The theory of the reflectivity of a moving thin plasma slab is presented.
- Publication:
-
Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves as Novel Radiation Sources from Terahertz to X-Rays and Beyond
- Pub Date:
- May 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.820615
- Bibcode:
- 2009SPIE.7359E..09E