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

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Jul 10;103(2):025002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.025002. Epub 2009 Jul 8.

Abstract

An ultrabright high-power x- and gamma-radiation source is proposed. A high-density thin plasma slab, accelerating in the radiation pressure dominant regime by an ultraintense electromagnetic wave, reflects a counterpropagating relativistically strong electromagnetic wave, producing extremely time-compressed and intensified radiation. The reflected light contains relativistic harmonics generated at the plasma slab, all upshifted with the same factor as the fundamental mode of the incident light. The theory of an arbitrarily moving thin plasma slab reflectivity is presented.