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High-energy photon generation from self-organized plasma cavities in field-enhanced laser-preplasma interactions

P. Hadjisolomou1,*, R. Shaisultanov1, T. M. Jeong1, C. P. Ridgers2, and S. V. Bulanov1

  • *Contact author: Prokopis.Hadjisolomou@eli-beams.eu
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043275 – Published 9 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/b2p6-t548

Abstract

The interaction of an ultraintense Nd:glass laser pulse with a near-critical plasma self-organizes into a highly efficient γ-ray source. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that relativistic self-focusing, aided by a self-generated electron cavity, enhances the laser intensity by more than an order of magnitude, driving the system into the radiation-reaction-dominated regime, i.e., one where the electrons lose a substantial amount of their energy as hard radiation. Peak photon emission occurs near 0.5 times the relativistic critical density, with a γ-photon yield exceeding 20% of the laser energy. Compared to Ti:Sa lasers of the same power, the longer duration of Nd:glass laser pulses leads to an order of magnitude increase in γ-photon number in the extreme conversion efficiency regime, making them particularly well suited for photonuclear physics applications. These findings point to a robust and scalable mechanism for compact, ultrabright γ-ray generation in the multipetawatt regime.

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043275– Published 9 December, 2025
  • Received 7 August 2025
  • Accepted 21 October 2025
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