Spin-dependent radiative deflection in the quantum radiation-reaction regime. (14th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geng, X S; Ji, L L; Shen, B F; Feng, B; Guo, Z; Han, Q Q; Qin, C Y; Wang, N W; Wang, W Q; Wu, Y T; Yan, X; Yu, Q; Zhang, L G; Xu, Z Z
• Is Part Of: New journal of physics. Volume 22:Number 1(2020:Jan.)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-14
• Subjects: spin -- ultra-intense laser -- strong-field QED -- radiation reaction; Physics -- Periodicals; Physics; Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/ab623b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-2630

Abstract

Abstract: A new spin-dependent deflection mechanism is revealed by considering the spin-correlated radiation-reaction force during laser-electron collision. We found that such deflection originates from the non-zero work done by the radiation-reaction force along the laser polarization direction in each half-period, which is larger/smaller for spin-anti-paralleled/spin-paralleled electrons. The resulted anti-symmetric deflection is further accumulated when the spin-projection onto the laser magnetic field is reversed in adjacent half-periods. The discovered mechanism dominates over the Stern–Gerlach deflection for electrons of several hundreds of MeV and 10 PW-level laser peak power. The results provide a new perspective to study the strong-field QED physics in quantum radiation-reaction regime and an approach to leverage the study of radiation-dominated and strong-field QED physics via particle spins.