All-optical Compton photon source generation via modulating pulse profile by convex focusing plasma mirror

Abstract: A relatively efficient scheme to generate energetic $\gamma$-ray is all-optical Compton scattering based on wakefield acceleration and plasma mirror where planar or concave solid target is usually employed to reflect driving pulse. For flat plasma mirror case, the colliding pulse radius is far larger than the radius of accelerated electron beam, which leads to smaller laser utilization efficiency. The concave plasma mirror can efficiently focus reflected laser to match electron beam radius. But the produced photon beam collimation is worse due to intensive transverse field and larger transverse wave vector of colliding laser. Here, we propose a new mechanism to achieve Compton scattering via employing convex plasma mirror. The convex plasma mirror improves reflected laser longitudinal length in addition to focusing effect, which ensures longer colliding time and larger laser utilization efficiency. Importantly, it leads transverse wave vector of colliding laser to be smaller, which guarantees better photon bunch collimation.