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Precision control of gamma-ray polarization using a crossed helical undulator free-electron laser

Publication ,  Journal Article
Yan, J; Mueller, JM; Ahmed, MW; Hao, H; Huang, S; Li, J; Litvinenko, VN; Liu, P; Mikhailov, SF; Popov, VG; Sikora, MH; Vinokurov, NA; Wu, YK
Published in: Nature Photonics
September 1, 2019

Polarized gamma-ray beams are a precise and selective probe for studying fundamental questions about nuclear structure and hadron properties. Improvements to this probe require new experimental approaches that can produce high-flux gamma-ray beams with easily switchable pure polarization states. Here, we report an optics-free method to precisely control the polarization of a Compton gamma-ray beam. Using a free-electron laser (FEL) oscillator with two helical undulator magnets of opposite helicities, we have produced a linearly polarized FEL beam with a variable polarization direction and an unprecedented degree of linear polarization, PLin = 0.997. With this FEL as a photon drive, we are able to generate Compton gamma-ray beams having either left/right-circular polarization or rotatable linear polarization. The linearly polarized gamma-ray beam has been characterized and shows PLin = 0.97. This demonstrated polarization control technique is well suited for high-flux gamma-ray production with any level of FEL power.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Nature Photonics

DOI

EISSN

1749-4893

ISSN

1749-4885

Publication Date

September 1, 2019

Volume

13

Issue

9

Start / End Page

629 / 635

Related Subject Headings

  • Optoelectronics & Photonics
  • 51 Physical sciences
  • 49 Mathematical sciences
  • 02 Physical Sciences
  • 01 Mathematical Sciences
 

Citation

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Yan, J., Mueller, J. M., Ahmed, M. W., Hao, H., Huang, S., Li, J., … Wu, Y. K. (2019). Precision control of gamma-ray polarization using a crossed helical undulator free-electron laser. Nature Photonics, 13(9), 629–635. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-019-0467-6
Yan, J., J. M. Mueller, M. W. Ahmed, H. Hao, S. Huang, J. Li, V. N. Litvinenko, et al. “Precision control of gamma-ray polarization using a crossed helical undulator free-electron laser.” Nature Photonics 13, no. 9 (September 1, 2019): 629–35. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-019-0467-6.
Yan J, Mueller JM, Ahmed MW, Hao H, Huang S, Li J, et al. Precision control of gamma-ray polarization using a crossed helical undulator free-electron laser. Nature Photonics. 2019 Sep 1;13(9):629–35.
Yan, J., et al. “Precision control of gamma-ray polarization using a crossed helical undulator free-electron laser.” Nature Photonics, vol. 13, no. 9, Sept. 2019, pp. 629–35. Scopus, doi:10.1038/s41566-019-0467-6.
Yan J, Mueller JM, Ahmed MW, Hao H, Huang S, Li J, Litvinenko VN, Liu P, Mikhailov SF, Popov VG, Sikora MH, Vinokurov NA, Wu YK. Precision control of gamma-ray polarization using a crossed helical undulator free-electron laser. Nature Photonics. 2019 Sep 1;13(9):629–635.

Published In

Nature Photonics

DOI

EISSN

1749-4893

ISSN

1749-4885

Publication Date

September 1, 2019

Volume

13

Issue

9

Start / End Page

629 / 635

Related Subject Headings

  • Optoelectronics & Photonics
  • 51 Physical sciences
  • 49 Mathematical sciences
  • 02 Physical Sciences
  • 01 Mathematical Sciences