Continuous operation of the laser compton gamma-ray source at SAGA-LS

A laser Compton scattering (LCS) gamma-ray source was constructed at the SAGA light source facility. Basic concept of the LCS source is high-flux gamma-ray generation in a GeV-class storage ring combined with an infrared high-power laser. To produce high-flux gamma rays in the few MeV region, we used a CO2 laser with a 10.6 μm wavelength. Head-on collisions between the laser photons and the 1.4 GeV electron beam in the storage ring produce gamma rays up to a maximum energy of 3.5 MeV without affecting the light source performance during a normal user time. We investigated the stability of the gamma-ray flux during continuous operation. The performance of the gamma-ray source and future plans for improving the availability of the gamma rays are reported. (author)