Gamma-beam propagation in the anisotropic medium

Abstract

Propagation of gamma-beam in the anisotropic medium is considered. The simpliest example of such a medium of the general type is a combination of the two linearly polarized monochromatic laser waves with different frequencies (dichromatic wave). The optical properties of this combination are described with the use of the permittivity tensor. The refractive indices and polarization characteristics of normal electromagnetic waves propagating in the anisotropic medium are found. The relations, describing variations of gamma-beam intensity and Stokes parameters as functions of propagation length are obtained. The influence of laser wave intensity on the propagation process are calculated. The gamma-beam intensity losses in the dichromatic wave depend on the initial circular polarization of gamma-quanta. This effect is also applied to the single crystals, which are oriented in some regions of coherent pair production. In principle, the single crystal sensitivity to a circular polarization can be used for determination of polarization of high energy (in tens GeV and more) gamma-quanta and electrons.