Superintense laser-driven photon activation analysis

Abstract Laser-driven radiation sources are attracting increasing attention for several materials science applications. While laser-driven ions, electrons and neutrons have already been considered to carry out the elemental characterization of materials, possibility exploit high-energy photons remains unexplored. Indeed, generated by interaction an ultra-intense laser pulse with a near-critical material can be turned into via bremsstrahlung emission when shot high-Z converter. These could effectively exploited perform Photon Activation Analysis (PAA). In present work, PAA is proposed investigated. We develop theoretical approach identify optimal experimental conditions in wide range intensities. Lastly, exploiting Monte Carlo Particle-In-Cell tools, we successfully simulate experiments performed both conventional accelerators sources. Under high repetition rate operation (i.e. 1−10 Hz) conditions, lasers allow performing performances comparable those achieved accelerators. Moreover, jointly complementary techniques under investigation existing facilities.