Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive technique that provides excellent contrast for soft tissue organs. However, due to the low density of protons and many air-tissue junctions, its application in the lung is limited. Thus, X‑ray-based methods are often used here (with the well-known disadvantages of ionizing radiation).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSources of high-energy photons have important applications in almost all areas of research. However, the photon flux and intensity of existing sources is strongly limited for photon energies above a few hundred keV. Here we show that a high-current ultrarelativistic electron beam interacting with multiple submicrometer-thick conducting foils can undergo strong self-focusing accompanied by efficient emission of gamma-ray synchrotron photons.
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