Linearly polarized photons are needed in modern nuclear and particle physics experiments in order to achieve decisive progress as cross section measurements alone can not unravel the details of small amplitudes in the presence of larger ones. The most common productions method is the coherent bremsstrahlung process which is well understood theoretically. However, in practice there are additional effects due to beam divergence and the radiator thickness as well as due to collimation which are more difficult to assess. These influence the shape and the degree of polarization of the photons. The method of shape analysis which is widely used to determine the degree of linear polarization is scrutinized with respect to the above effects and traditional methods of their simulation. Results from recent Monte Carlo simulations and from some test experiments are presented together with a new normalization procedure.

Date Published: 2 May 2007
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 6634, International Conference on Charged and Neutral Particles Channeling Phenomena II, 663405 (2 May 2007); doi: 10.1117/12.741835

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6634:
International Conference on Charged and Neutral Particles Channeling Phenomena II
Sultan B. Dabagov, Editor(s)