# Are we ready to transfer optical light to gamma-rays?

## TL;DR

This paper reviews laser-electron interactions for gamma-ray production, highlighting new multi-photon effects with ultra-intense lasers, and provides scaling laws for future high-energy photon sources.

## Contribution

It distinguishes different laser scenarios and offers scaling laws for efficient gamma-ray generation using advanced laser-electron interactions.

## Key findings

- Multi-photon absorption enhances gamma-ray yields.
- Scaling laws for laser-electron gamma-ray conversion.
- Potential for controlled, bright gamma-ray sources.

## Abstract

Scattering relativistic electrons with optical lasers can result in a significant frequency upshift for the photons, potentially producing $\gamma$-rays. This is what linear Compton scattering taught us. Ultra-intense lasers offer nowadays a new paradigm where multi-photon absorption effects come into play. These effects can result in higher harmonics, higher yields and also electron-positron pairs. This article intends to discriminate the different laser scenarios that have been proposed over the past years as well as to give scaling laws for future experiments. The energy conversion from laser or particles to high-frequency photons is addressed for both the well-known counter propagating electron beam-laser interaction and for Quantum-electrodynamics cascades triggered by various lasers. Constructing bright and energetic gamma-ray sources in controlled conditions is within an ace of seeing the light of day.