Generation of ultra-bright MeV gamma-ray beams from intense laser-matter interactions

Using relativistically-intense laser pulses, it is possible to produce high-flux high-energy photon beams in an all optical arrangement. This thesis will provide a working theory of what plasmas and lasers are and how energy from lasers couples into plasmas; before a discussion of the generation of synchrotron radiation is presented.A discussion into the unique diagnostics and techniques applied in the setup of such experiments will be presented in which a novel detector for high flux gamma-ray beams within the 3 − 20 MeV range with MeV resolution is shown as well as a new technique for the temporal overlap of ultra-short pulses to fs precision is given.This is followed by the findings from a recent experimental campaign in which NLTS was demonstrated experimentally which implies a peak brilliance of ∼ 1020 photons s−1mm−2 mrad−2 0.1% BW will be presented before a discussion of the likely future work that has been planned is given.