Controlling electron spin dynamics in bichromatic Kapitza-Dirac scattering by the laser field polarization

Abstract

Spin-dependent Kapitza-Dirac scattering of electron beams from counterpropagating bichromatic laser waves in various polarization geometries is studied. The corresponding scattering probabilities are obtained by analytical and numerical solutions of the time-dependent Dirac equation, assuming a field frequency ratio of 2. When the fundamental field mode is circular-polarized, we show that spin dynamics are generally suppressed at low intensities, but can become distinct at high intensities. Conversely, when a linearly or elliptically polarized fundamental mode is combined with a second harmonic of circular polarization, strong spin effects arise already at low field intensities. In particular, a polarization configuration is identified which acts as a spin filter for free electrons.

9 pages, 8 figures

References in corpus (8)

• Spin dynamics in the Kapitza-Dirac effect
• Spin polarized electron-positron pair production via elliptical polarized laser fields
• Spin-polarizing interferometric beam splitter for free electrons
• Identifying the Stern-Gerlach force of classical electron dynamics
• Electron-spin dynamics in elliptically polarized light waves
• Spin effects in Kapitza-Dirac scattering at light with elliptical polarization
• Spin-dependent two-color Kapitza-Dirac effects
• Spin dynamics in Kapitza-Dirac scattering of electrons from bichromatic laser fields

Cited by in corpus (12)

• Ultrarelativistic electron beam polarization in single-shot interaction with an ultraintense laser pulse
• Theory of Radiative Electron Polarization in Strong Laser Fields
• Spin-polarization effects of an ultrarelativistic electron beam in an ultraintense two-color laser pulse
• Relativistic electron spin dynamics in a strong unipolar laser field
• Single-shot determination of spin-polarization for ultrarelativistic electron beams via nonlinear Compton scattering
• Spin in Compton scattering with pronounced polarization dynamics
• Electron spin filter and polarizer in a standing light wave
• Spin-dependent two-photon Bragg scattering in the Kapitza-Dirac effect
• Four-Photon Kapitza-Dirac Effect as Electron Spin Filter
• Beam focus and longitudinal polarization influence on spin dynamics in the Kapitza-Dirac effect
• Two-dimensional simulation of the spin-flip in the Kapitza-Dirac effect
• Parameter space investigation for spin-dependent electron diffraction in the Kapitza-Dirac effect