APPLICATION OF CONVENTIONAL LASER TECHNOLOGY TO GAMMA-GAMMA COLLIDERS

A future e- -e+ (electron-positron) linear collider can be configured with perhaps minimal modification to serve as an gamma-gamma (gamma-ga mma) or a e- -gamma collider. This is accomplished by Compton-backscat tering low energy photons (from a laser source) off of the high-energy electron beams prior to the crossing of the electron beams. However, to be competitive with the e- -e+ configuration, the luminosity cannot be compromised in the process. This requires that the laser source de liver a sufficient number of photons per pulse with a pulse format and rate matching that of the electron beams. As it turns out, this requi res an average optical power of 5-15 kW from the laser which is beyond the current state of the art. In this paper, we address how to genera te the required pulse format and how the high average power requiremen t can be met with conventional laser technology. We also address conce rns about the survivability of mirrors located near the interaction po int. Finally, we list a program of research and development which addr esses some of the unknowns in such a system.