Hundred Terawatt Thomson System at the BELLA Center, LBNL: A Tunable MeV Photon Source for HEDS and Nuclear Nonproliferation*

The Hundred Terawatt Thomson (HTT) platform at the BELLA Center at LBNL has been designed to provide a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) source of high energy (~100s MeV) electrons for use in generating tunable MeV photons, via Thomson scattering, at 1Hz for applications. This is achieved through the interaction of the LPA electrons with a secondary, independently tunable, 'scatter' laser pulse. HTT also offers versatility for use in other experiments such as those requiring the pump-probe configuration; the LPA electrons and associated betatron radiation can be used to probe the interaction of the 'scatter' laser with a secondary target. This poster presents HTT in its current state, including the currently achievable parameters of the primary and secondary laser beams, the configuration of the target chamber, experimental diagnostics, and results from the LPA and photon source. Additionally, consideration is given to its potential applications in other experiments, which have been demonstrated through the LaserNet US program. Finally, prospective upgrades to the system are detailed for improving the laser characteristics, LPA radiation source, and the available diagnostics.