Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Article number | 224801 |
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark> | 25/11/2014 |
<mark>Journal</mark> | Physical review letters |
Issue number | 22 |
Volume | 113 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Publication Status | Published |
<mark>Original language</mark> | English |
We report on the generation of a narrow divergence (theta(gamma) <2.5 mrad), multi-MeV (E-max approximate to 18 MeV) and ultrahigh peak brilliance (> 1.8 x 10(20) photons s(-1) mm(-2) mrad(-2) 0.1% BW) gamma-ray beam from the scattering of an ultrarelativistic laser-wakefield accelerated electron beam in the field of a relativistically intense laser (dimensionless amplitude a(0) approximate to 2). The spectrum of the generated gamma- ray beam is measured, with MeV resolution, seamlessly from 6 to 18 MeV, giving clear evidence of the onset of nonlinear relativistic Thomson scattering. To the best of our knowledge, this photon source has the highest peak brilliance in the multi-MeV regime ever reported in the literature.