Two-dimensional simulation of the spin-flip in the Kapitza-Dirac effect

Abstract

Many calculations in strong field quantum field theory are carried out by using a simple field geometry, often neglecting the spacial field envelope. In this article, we simulate the electron diffraction quantum dynamics of the Kapitza-Dirac effect in a Gaussian beam standing light wave. The two-dimensional simulation is computed in a relativistic framework, by solving the Dirac equation with the fast Fourier transform split operator method. Except the numerical propagation method, our results are obtained without applying approximations and demonstrate that a spin-flip in the Kapitza-Dirac effect is possible. We further discuss properties, such as the validity of a plane wave approach for the theoretical description, the influence of the longitudinal polarization component due to laser beam focusing and higher order diffraction peaks in Kapitza-Dirac scattering.

arXiv comment11 pages, 15 figures

References in corpus (24)

• Ultrarelativistic electron beam polarization in single-shot interaction with an ultraintense laser pulse
• Spin polarization of electrons by ultraintense lasers
• Polarized positron beams via intense two-color laser pulses
• Production of Highly Polarized Positron Beams via Helicity Transfer from Polarized Electrons in a Strong Laser Field
• Polarized laser-wakefield-accelerated kiloampere electron beams
• Accelerating the Fourier split operator method via graphics processing units
• Spin dynamics in the Kapitza-Dirac effect
• The Kapitza - Dirac effect
• Spin-polarizing interferometric beam splitter for free electrons
• Kapitza-Dirac effect in the relativistic regime
• Observation of the relativistic reversal of the ponderomotive potential
• Krylov subspace methods for the Dirac equation
• Radiative polarization of electrons in a strong laser wave
• Controlling electron spin dynamics in bichromatic Kapitza-Dirac scattering by the laser field polarization
• Spin effects in Kapitza-Dirac scattering at light with elliptical polarization
• Spin-dependent two-color Kapitza-Dirac effects
• Strong signature of one-loop self-energy in polarization resolved nonlinear Compton scattering
• Electron spin filter and polarizer in a standing light wave
• Spin in Compton scattering with pronounced polarization dynamics
• Spin dynamics in Kapitza-Dirac scattering of electrons from bichromatic laser fields
• Spin-dependent two-photon Bragg scattering in the Kapitza-Dirac effect
• Radiative spin polarization in an ultrastrong magnetic field
• Four-Photon Kapitza-Dirac Effect as Electron Spin Filter
• Beam focus and longitudinal polarization influence on spin dynamics in the Kapitza-Dirac effect