Speaker
Description
Recent improvements in laser technology have allowed on one hand to reach unprecedented levels of energy and intensity and on the other hand to develop new target systems to produce ever more energetic electron beams. These developments have made it possible to accelerate electrons up to 10
GeV in the space of 30 cm. The electron beam, interacting with a high-Z target can produce muons either via pair production with the Bethe-Heitler mechanism, or via the decay of mesons generated in photo- and electron-nuclear interactions. The production of muons using lasers has
been recently investigated and demonstrated by several teams worldwide.
This contribution will review the current status of laser-driven muon beams and the most notable experimental results. As well, it will detail the future plans for the development of a muon beam at the ELI Beamlines facility.