Spin dynamics in the Kapitza-Dirac effect

Abstract

Electron spin dynamics in Kapitza-Dirac scattering from a standing laser wave of high frequency and high intensity is studied. We develop a fully relativistic quantum theory of the electron motion based on the time-dependent Dirac equation. Distinct spin dynamics, with Rabi oscillations and complete spin-flip transitions, is demonstrated for Kapitza-Dirac scattering involving three photons in a parameter regime accessible to future high-power X-ray laser sources. The Rabi frequency and, thus, the diffraction pattern is shown to depend crucially on the spin degree of freedom.

References in corpus (1)

• Strong signatures of radiation reaction below the radiation dominated regime

Cited by in corpus (6)

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• Spin-polarizing interferometric beam splitter for free electrons
• Photo-production of scalar particles in the field of a circularly polarized laser beam
• Electron-spin dynamics in elliptically polarized light waves
• Laser-driven relativistic tunneling from p-states
• Spin in Compton scattering with pronounced polarization dynamics