Dimuon production by laser-wakefield accelerated electrons

Abstract

We analyze μ^{+}μ^{-} pair production generated by high-energy electrons emerging from a laser-wakefield accelerator. The μ^{+}μ^{-} pairs are created in a solid thick high-Z target, following the electron accelerating plasma region. Numerical estimates are presented for 1 to 10 GeV electron beams which are expected to be reliable in the nearest future. Reactions induced by the secondary bremsstrahlung photons dominate the dimuon production. According to our estimates, a 20 pC electron bunch with energy of 1 (10) GeV may create about 100 (5000) muon pairs. The produced μ^{±} can be used in studying various aspects of muon-related physics in tabletop installations. This may be considered as an important step towards the investigation of more complicated elementary processes induced by laser-driven electrons.