arXiv subjects

Balša Terzić

Publications and source records attributed to Balša Terzić.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Characterizing an inverse Compton X-ray source and determining its electron beam parameters using a genetic algorithm

Inverse Compton X-ray sources are laboratory-scale devices providing quasi-monochromatic synchrotron radiation which is generated by laser photons Compton-scattering off highly relativistic electrons. Since the shape and width of the X-ray spectrum are determined by the properties of the colliding beams, these must be carefully optimised. However, device compactness limits the space for diagnostics, rendering a complete characterisation challenging, especially if an electron storage ring is combined with a laser enhancement cavity. Here, a framework for laser, electron and X-ray beam parameter determination is proposed to address this issue. First, methods for determining the laser- and X-ray parameters are presented. Knowing these, electron beam parameters are retrieved from the shape of the X-ray spectrum. To this end, an analytical physical model enabling a rapid calculation of inverse Compton scattering spectra is developed and combined with a genetic algorithm. This strategy's effectiveness is demonstrated by applying the concept at the Munich Compact Light Source, a storage ring-based inverse Compton X-ray source facility. Since the analytical model is computationally very inexpensive, the proposed framework could enable real-time monitoring of inverse Compton X-ray sources or be used as a non-invasive diagnostic based on a single spectrum for the electron beam emittance of storage rings or accelerators.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2026

Poincaré invariance and the Unruh effect

In quantum field theory, the vacuum is popularly considered to be a complex medium populated with virtual particle + antiparticle pairs. To an observer experiencing uniform acceleration, it is generally held that these virtual particles become real, appearing as a gas at a temperature that grows with the acceleration. This is the Unruh effect. However, it has been shown that vacuum complexity is an artifact, produced by treating quantum field theory in a manner that does not manifestly enforce causality. Choosing a quantization approach that patently enforces causality, the quantum field theory vacuum is barren, bereft even of virtual particles. We show that acceleration has no effect on a trivial vacuum; hence, there is no Unruh effect in such a treatment of quantum field theory. Since the standard calculations suggesting an Unruh effect are formally consistent, insofar as they have been completed, there must be a cancelling contribution that is omitted in the usual analyses. We argue that it is the dynamical action of conventional Lorentz transformations on the structure of an Unruh detector.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2025

On the Evidence for Violation of the Equivalence Principle in Disk Galaxies

We examine the claimed observations of a gravitational external field effect (EFE) reported in Chae et al. We show that observations suggestive of the EFE can be interpreted without violating Einstein's equivalence principle, namely from known correlations between morphology, environment and dynamics of galaxies. While Chae et al's analysis provides a valuable attempt at a clear test of Modified Newtonian Dynamics, an evidently important topic, a re-analysis of the observational data does not permit us to confidently assess the presence of an EFE or to distinguish this interpretation from that proposed in this article.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Fully Relativistic Derivation of the Thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect

We present the first fully and inherently relativistic derivation of the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect. This work uses the formalism historically used to compute radiation spectra emerging from inverse Thomson/Compton sources of x-ray radiation. Comparing our results to the traditional approach based on relativistically-corrected classical Kompaneets equation, we find small, but systematic differences. Most notable are the modest (< 10 %) differences in the crossover frequency where the spectral distortion due to the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect vanishes, and the energy increase of the distribution at high electron cloud temperatures.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

PAGANI: A Parallel Adaptive GPU Algorithm for Numerical

We present a new adaptive parallel algorithm for the challenging problem of multi-dimensional numerical integration on massively parallel architectures. Adaptive algorithms have demonstrated the best performance, but efficient many-core utilization is difficult to achieve because the adaptive work-load can vary greatly across the integration space and is impossible to predict a priori. Existing parallel algorithms utilize sequential computations on independent processors, which results in bottlenecks due to the need for data redistribution and processor synchronization. Our algorithm employs a high-throughput approach in which all existing sub-regions are processed and sub-divided in parallel. Repeated sub-region classification and filtering improves upon a brute-force approach and allows the algorithm to make efficient use of computation and memory resources. A CUDA implementation shows orders of magnitude speedup over the fastest open-source CPU method and extends the achievable accuracy for difficult integrands. Our algorithm typically outperforms other existing deterministic parallel methods.

cs.DC↗

arXiv2020

Significance of Gravitational Nonlinearities on the Dynamics of Disk Galaxies

The discrepancy between the visible mass in galaxies or galaxy clusters, and that inferred from their dynamics is well known. The prevailing solution to this problem is dark matter. Here we show that a different approach, one that conforms to both the current Standard Model of Particle Physics and General Relativity, explains the recently observed tight correlation between the galactic baryonic mass and its observed acceleration. Using direct calculations based on General Relativity's Lagrangian, and parameter-free galactic models, we show that the nonlinear effects of General Relativity make baryonic matter alone sufficient to explain this observation.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Improving inverse Compton by removing non-linearities

We present a new, more nuanced understanding of non-linear effects in inverse Compton sources. Contrary to what has been heretofore understood, deleterious non-linear effects can arise even at low laser intensities, a regime previously viewed as linear. After laying out a comprehensive survey of all non-linear phenomena which degrade the effectiveness of inverse Compton sources, we discuss two powerful techniques designed to remove these non-linearities. Starting with the known technique of longitudinal chirping of the laser pulse, which we developed earlier to mitigate adverse non-linear effects in the high laser field regime, we have discovered that the simple stretching of the laser pulse, while keeping the energy constant, can significantly increase the spectral density of the scattered radiation in many operating regimes. Our numerical simulations show that combining these two techniques removes detrimental non-linearities and improves the performance of inverse Compton sources over an order of magnitude.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2019

Improving performance of inverse Compton sources through laser chirping

We present a new paradigm for computation of radiation spectra in the non-linear regime of operation of inverse Compton sources characterized by high laser intensities. The resulting simulations show an unprecedented level of agreement with the experiments. Increasing the laser intensity changes the longitudinal velocity of the electrons during their collision, leading to considerable non-linear broadening in the scattered radiation spectra. The effects of such ponderomotive broadening are so deleterious that most inverse Compton sources either remain at low laser intensities or pay a steep price to operate at a small fraction of the physically possible peak spectral output. This ponderomotive broadening can be reduced by a suitable frequency modulation (also referred to as "chirping", which is not necessarily linear) of the incident laser pulse, thereby drastically increasing the peak spectral density. This frequency modulation, included in the new code as an optional functionality, is used in simulations to motivate the experimental implementation of this transformative technique.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2015

Combining Harmonic Generation and Laser Chirping to Achieve High Spectral Density in Compton Sources

Recently various laser-chirping schemes have been investigated with the goal of reducing or eliminating ponderomotive line broadening in Compton or Thomson scattering occurring at high laser intensities. As a next level of detail in the spectrum calculations, we have calculated the line smoothing and broadening expected due to incident beam energy spread within a one-dimensional plane wave model for the incident laser pulse, both for compensated (chirped) and unchirped cases. The scattered compensated distributions are treatable analytically within three models for the envelope of the incident laser pulses: Gaussian, Lorentzian, or hyperbolic secant. We use the new results to demonstrate that the laser chirping in Compton sources at high laser intensities: (i) enables the use of higher order harmonics, thereby reducing the required electron beam energies; and (ii) increases the photon yield in a small frequency band beyond that possible with the fundamental without chirping. This combination of chirping and higher harmonics can lead to substantial savings in the design, construction and operational costs of the new Compton sources. This is of particular importance to the the widely popular laser-plasma accelerator based Compton sources, as the improvement in their beam quality enters the regime where chirping is most effective.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2013

Narrowband Emission in Thomson Sources Operating in the High-Field Regime

We present a novel and quite general analysis of the interaction of a high-field chirped laser pulse and a relativistic electron, in which exquisite control of the spectral brilliance of the upshifted Thomson-scattered photon is shown to be possible. Normally, when Thomson scattering occurs at high field strengths, there is ponderomotive line broadening in the scattered radiation. This effect makes the bandwidth too large for some applications and reduces the spectral brilliance. We show that such broadening can be corrected and eliminated by suitable frequency modulation of the incident laser pulse. Further, we suggest a practical realization of this compensation idea in terms of a chirped-beam driven free electron laser oscillator configuration and show that significant compensation can occur, even with the imperfect matching to be expected in these conditions.

physics.acc-ph↗