Boosted high-harmonics pulse from a double-sided relativistic mirror.

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• High-Energy Physics
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Generation of high-power radiation is crucial for scientific research.
• Existing methods face limitations in intensity and compression.
• Ultraintense electromagnetic waves offer new possibilities for radiation generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and theoretically describe a novel ultrabright high-power X- and gamma-radiation source.
• To investigate the mechanism of radiation intensification and time compression using a plasma slab.
• To present the theory of reflectivity for an arbitrarily moving thin plasma slab.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a high-density thin plasma slab.
• Employing an ultraintense electromagnetic wave to accelerate the plasma slab in the radiation pressure dominant regime.
• Analyzing the reflection of a counterpropagating relativistically strong electromagnetic wave.

Main Results:

• The proposed method produces extremely time-compressed and intensified radiation.
• The reflected light contains relativistic harmonics upshifted with the same factor as the fundamental incident mode.
• The theory of arbitrarily moving thin plasma slab reflectivity is developed.

Conclusions:

• The proposed plasma-based approach offers a viable method for generating ultrabright high-power X- and gamma-radiation.
• This technique enables significant intensification and time compression of electromagnetic radiation.
• The theoretical framework provides a basis for further experimental investigations and applications.