Spin polarization of electrons by ultraintense lasers

D. Del Sorbo; D. Seipt; T. G. Blackburn; A. G.R. Thomas; C. D. Murphy; J. G. Kirk; C. P. Ridgers

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.96.043407

Spin polarization of electrons by ultraintense lasers

D. Del Sorbo, D. Seipt, T. G. Blackburn, A. G.R. Thomas, C. D. Murphy, J. G. Kirk, C. P. Ridgers

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Electrons in plasmas produced by next-generation ultraintense lasers (I>5×1022W/cm2) can be spin polarized to a high degree (10%-70%) by the laser pulses on a femtosecond time scale. This is due to electrons undergoing spin-flip transitions as they radiate γ-ray photons, preferentially spin polarizing in one direction. Spin polarization can modify the radiation reaction force on the electrons, which differs by up to 30% for opposite spin polarizations. Consequently, the polarization of the radiated γ-ray photons is also modified: the relative power radiated in the σ and π components increases and decreases by up to 30%, respectively, potentially reducing the rate of pair production in the plasma by up to 30%.

Original language	English
Article number	043407
Number of pages	6
Journal	Physical Review A
Volume	96
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.96.043407
Publication status	Published - 11 Oct 2017

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10.1103/PhysRevA.96.043407Licence: CC BY

PhysRevA.96.043407
© 2017 Published by the American Physical Society.
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Cite this

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title = "Spin polarization of electrons by ultraintense lasers",

abstract = "Electrons in plasmas produced by next-generation ultraintense lasers (I>5×1022W/cm2) can be spin polarized to a high degree (10%-70%) by the laser pulses on a femtosecond time scale. This is due to electrons undergoing spin-flip transitions as they radiate γ-ray photons, preferentially spin polarizing in one direction. Spin polarization can modify the radiation reaction force on the electrons, which differs by up to 30% for opposite spin polarizations. Consequently, the polarization of the radiated γ-ray photons is also modified: the relative power radiated in the σ and π components increases and decreases by up to 30%, respectively, potentially reducing the rate of pair production in the plasma by up to 30%.",

author = "{Del Sorbo}, D. and D. Seipt and Blackburn, {T. G.} and Thomas, {A. G.R.} and Murphy, {C. D.} and Kirk, {J. G.} and Ridgers, {C. P.}",

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AU - Del Sorbo, D.

AU - Seipt, D.

AU - Blackburn, T. G.

AU - Thomas, A. G.R.

AU - Murphy, C. D.

AU - Kirk, J. G.

AU - Ridgers, C. P.

PY - 2017/10/11

Y1 - 2017/10/11

N2 - Electrons in plasmas produced by next-generation ultraintense lasers (I>5×1022W/cm2) can be spin polarized to a high degree (10%-70%) by the laser pulses on a femtosecond time scale. This is due to electrons undergoing spin-flip transitions as they radiate γ-ray photons, preferentially spin polarizing in one direction. Spin polarization can modify the radiation reaction force on the electrons, which differs by up to 30% for opposite spin polarizations. Consequently, the polarization of the radiated γ-ray photons is also modified: the relative power radiated in the σ and π components increases and decreases by up to 30%, respectively, potentially reducing the rate of pair production in the plasma by up to 30%.

AB - Electrons in plasmas produced by next-generation ultraintense lasers (I>5×1022W/cm2) can be spin polarized to a high degree (10%-70%) by the laser pulses on a femtosecond time scale. This is due to electrons undergoing spin-flip transitions as they radiate γ-ray photons, preferentially spin polarizing in one direction. Spin polarization can modify the radiation reaction force on the electrons, which differs by up to 30% for opposite spin polarizations. Consequently, the polarization of the radiated γ-ray photons is also modified: the relative power radiated in the σ and π components increases and decreases by up to 30%, respectively, potentially reducing the rate of pair production in the plasma by up to 30%.

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Spin polarization of electrons by ultraintense lasers

Abstract

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Chris Dominic Murphy

Laser-Plasma Interactions at the Intensity Frontier: the Transition to the QED-Plasma Regime