Ústav technické a experimentální fyziky Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics

Experimental evidence of production of directional muons from a laser-wakefield accelerator

NázevTitle
Experimental evidence of production of directional muons from a laser-wakefield acceleratorExperimental evidence of production of directional muons from a laser-wakefield accelerator
Druh výsledkuResult type
Článek v časopiseJournal article
AutořiAuthors
L. Calvin, E. Gerstmayr, C. Arran, L. Tudor, T. Foster, K. Fleck, B. Bergmann, D. Doria, B. Kettle, H. Maguire, V. Malka, P. Mánek, S.P.D. Mangles, P. McKenna, R.E. Mihai, S. Popa, C. Ridgers, J. Sarma, P. Smolyanskiy, R. Wilson, R.M. Deas, G. Sarri
DOIDOI
10.1088/1361-6587/ae4d05
Časopis / citaceJournal / citation
Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. 2026, 68(3), ISSN 1361-6587.
RokYear
2026
JazykLanguage
eng
WoSWoS
001714029300001
RIVRIV
ProjektProject
Identifikace částic v experimentech fysiky vysokych energií a ve vesmíru s pokročilými detekčními systémyParticle identification in high-energy physics experiments and space with advanced detection systems

AbstraktAbstract

We report on experimental evidence of the generation of directional muons from a laser-wakefield accelerator driven by a PW-class laser. The muons were generated following the interaction of a GeV-scale high-charge electron beam with a 2 cm-thick Pb target and were detected using a Timepix3 detector placed behind a suitable shielding configuration. Data analysis indicates a 99.1± 0.5% confidence of muon detection over noise, in excellent agreement with numerical modelling. Extrapolation of the experimental setup to higher electron energies and charges suggests the potential to guide and separate from noise approximately 10^4 muons/s onto cm2-scale areas for applications using a 10 Hz PW laser. These results demonstrate the possibility of generating and transporting directional muon beams using high-power lasers and establish a foundation for the systematic application of laser-driven high-energy muon beams.

We report on experimental evidence of the generation of directional muons from a laser-wakefield accelerator driven by a PW-class laser. The muons were generated following the interaction of a GeV-scale high-charge electron beam with a 2 cm-thick Pb target and were detected using a Timepix3 detector placed behind a suitable shielding configuration. Data analysis indicates a 99.1± 0.5% confidence of muon detection over noise, in excellent agreement with numerical modelling. Extrapolation of the experimental setup to higher electron energies and charges suggests the potential to guide and separate from noise approximately 10^4 muons/s onto cm2-scale areas for applications using a 10 Hz PW laser. These results demonstrate the possibility of generating and transporting directional muon beams using high-power lasers and establish a foundation for the systematic application of laser-driven high-energy muon beams.