QScatter: Numerical Framework for Fast Prediction of Particle Distributions in Electron-Laser Scattering

TL;DR

QScatter is a fast, open-source numerical framework that predicts particle and photon distributions in electron-laser scattering, enabling quick analysis of experimental data and optimization in high-repetition rate laser experiments.

Contribution

The paper introduces QScatter, a novel numerical method combining analytical and numerical techniques for rapid prediction of scattering outcomes, reducing computation time from days to minutes.

Findings

Provides predictions within minutes on a personal computer

Supports analysis with spatial and temporal misalignments

Enables optimization of experimental parameters

Abstract

The new generation of multi-PetaWatt laser facilities will allow tests of Strong Field QED, as well as provide an opportunity for novel photon and lepton sources. The first experiments are planned to study the (nearly) head-on scattering of intense, focused laser pulses with either relativistic electron beams or high-energy photon sources. In this work, we present a numerical framework that can provide fast predictions of the asymptotic particle and photon distributions after the scattering. The works presented in this manuscript includes multiple features such as spatial and temporal misalignment between the laser and the scattering beam, broadband electron beams, and beam divergence. The expected mean energy, energy spread, divergence or other observables are calculated by combining an analytical description and numerical integration. This method can provide results within minutes on a personal computer, which would otherwise require full-scale 3D QED-PIC simulations using thousands of cores. The model, which has been compiled into an open-source code QScatter, may be used to support the analysis of large-size data sets from high-repetition rate experiments, leveraging its speed for optimization or reconstruction of experimental parameters.