In a groundbreaking development, a team of researchers from the Institute of Free Electron Laser, Osaka University, has successfully demonstrated a novel method for producing high-energy gamma-ray beams. The team, led by Norihito Muramatsu, has utilized an innovative approach to achieve significantly higher energies in gamma-ray beam production, paving the way for future applications in scientific research and potentially the energy sector.
The researchers have developed a method that involves the backward Compton scattering of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light emitted from an undulator in a storage ring. Instead of the conventional method of injecting laser light into a storage ring, the team used a Mo/Si multilayer mirror to reflect the 92 eV photons back into the original ring. This process resulted in the first-ever observation of gamma-ray beam production through EUV light Compton scattering at the 1 GeV ring, NewSUBARU. The measured energy spectrum was well reproduced by a theoretical calculation, with the maximum energy reaching 0.543 GeV. The production rate was measured at 1.4 ± 0.1 kcps for energies above 0.160 GeV, which was quantitatively explained by the luminosity and the scattering cross section.
This innovative method opens up new possibilities for creating high-energy gamma-ray beams for various applications. In the energy sector, such beams could be utilized for advanced materials research, nuclear waste management, and even potential breakthroughs in nuclear fusion research. The ability to produce high-energy gamma-rays more efficiently could lead to more precise and effective applications in these areas, ultimately contributing to the development of cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
The research was published in the journal Physical Review Letters, marking a significant milestone in the field of gamma-ray beam production and its potential applications in scientific research and the energy sector.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.