Can Laser Pulses Produce MeV Gamma Rays?

In summary, there are ways to produce gamma rays in a laboratory without using radioactive substances. These include using a flashlight, a Roentgen tube, and various methods involving particle accelerators, such as directing high-energy charged particle beams at a solid target or colliding particles to produce gamma rays. Low energy photons can also scatter off high energy particles to create gamma rays. This method was discussed in a forum and involves using a laser to pulse photons at electrons in an accelerator to produce photons with energies in the several-MeV range.
  • #1
David lopez
257
3
i already know radioactivity produces gamma rays. Are there other ways to produce gamma rays in a laboratory, without radioactive substances?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
With a flashlight ?
Or a Roentgen tube ?
 
  • #3
i don't think a flashlight can produce gamma rays. i don't know what a roentgen tube is.
 
  • #4
i just want to know if there are any processes that can produce gamma rays, other than radioactivity?
 
  • #5
Gamma rays are too high frequency to be produced by other than nuclear reactions.
 
  • Like
Likes tech99
  • #6
mathman said:
Gamma rays are too high frequency to be produced by other than nuclear reactions.
I must disagree. Photons are produced by bremsstrahlung when energetic charged particles impact on a solid target. The higher the energy of the charged particle, the higher the energy of the photons. Accelerators, even fairly simple ones, can produce charged particle beams of millions of electron volts and above. When these beams are directed at a solid target, the photon energies can be millions of eV or more. Photons with more than 1 MeV of energy are what we call gamma rays.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes dlgoff, tech99 and vanhees71
  • #7
Particle accelerators have various ways to produce gamma rays.

Particles hitting a fixed target can produce them, colliders can produce them in collisions, low energy photons scattering off high energy particles (especially electrons) can become gamma rays.
 
  • #8
Exactly this topic was discussed in another thread. The basic idea is, you have an electron accelerator with electrons going this-way. And you pulse photons in from a laser going that-way. The photons scatter off the electrons and you can get photons at MeV or higher. Getting photons in the several-MeV range is not too tough.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...e-of-nuclear-waste-to-just-30-minutes.979756/
 

1. How are gamma rays produced?

Gamma rays are produced through a process called radioactive decay, where an unstable nucleus releases energy in the form of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, including gamma rays.

2. Can gamma rays be produced artificially?

Yes, gamma rays can be produced artificially through various methods such as nuclear reactions, particle accelerators, and radioactive isotopes.

3. What is the most common source of gamma rays?

The most common source of gamma rays is the decay of radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium, and radium.

4. How can we control the production of gamma rays?

We can control the production of gamma rays by controlling the amount and type of radioactive material used, as well as the energy and intensity of the radiation source.

5. What are the uses of gamma rays?

Gamma rays have many practical applications, including medical imaging and cancer treatment, sterilization of medical equipment, and industrial processes such as food preservation and material testing.

Similar threads

  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
22
Views
3K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
829
Replies
5
Views
921
Back
Top