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Measuring extreme vacuum pressure with ultraintense lasers
Angel Paredes1, David Novoa, Daniele Tommasini
1Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidade de Vigo, As Lagoas, Ourense ES-32004, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|February 2, 2013
Summary
Extreme vacuum pressures can now be measured using current technology by detecting photons from laser light scattering off electrons. This method offers reliable measurements for pressures greater than 10(-14) Pascal.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Vacuum Technology
- Laser Science
Background:
- Measuring extreme vacuum pressures is crucial for various scientific and technological applications.
- Current methods for measuring ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and extreme high vacuum (XHV) have limitations in sensitivity and reliability.
- Relativistic Thomson scattering offers a potential new avenue for vacuum metrology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of measuring extreme vacuum pressures using relativistic Thomson scattering.
- To compute the characteristics of scattered radiation for vacuum pressure determination.
- To design experimental strategies for efficient and sensitive pressure measurements.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing ultraintense laser light interacting with electrons in a vacuum medium.
- Detecting and analyzing photons produced by relativistic Thomson scattering.
- Computing scattered radiation frequencies and angles for a Gaussian laser pulse crossing a vacuum tube.
Main Results:
- The study computes scattered radiation patterns at different frequencies and angles.
- A single-day experiment at a petawatt laser facility can detect pressures as low as 10(-16) Pa.
- Reliable measurements are achievable for pressures above approximately 10(-14) Pa.
Conclusions:
- Current technology is sufficient for measuring extreme vacuum pressures via laser-induced photon detection.
- Relativistic Thomson scattering provides a sensitive and reliable method for vacuum metrology.
- Future experiments at facilities like Vega can push the boundaries of vacuum pressure measurement.
