20,835 research outputs found
In Situ Characterization of Ultraintense Laser Pulses
We present a method for determining the characteristics of an intense laser
pulse by probing it with a relativistic electron beam. After an initial burst
of very high-energy -radiation the electrons proceed to emit a series
of attosecond duration X-ray pulses as they leave the field. These flashes
provide detailed information about the interaction, allowing us to determine
properties of the laser pulse: something that is currently a challenge for
ultra-high intensity laser systems.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure
Transverse spreading of electrons in high-intensity laser fields
We show that for collisions of electrons with a high-intensity laser,
discrete photon emissions introduce a transverse beam spread which is distinct
from that due to classical (or beam shape) effects. Via numerical simulations,
we show that this quantum induced transverse momentum gain of the electron is
manifest in collisions with a realistic laser pulse of intensity within reach
of current technology, and we propose it as a measurable signature of
strong-field quantum electrodynamics.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review
Letter
SIMLA: Simulating laser-particle interactions via classical and quantum electrodynamics
We present the Fortran code SIMLA, which is designed for the study of charged
particle dynamics in laser and other background fields. This can be done
classically via the Landau-Lifshitz equation, or alternatively, via the
simulation of photon emission events determined by strong-field
quantum-electrodynamics amplitudes and implemented using Monte-Carlo type
routines. Multiple laser fields can be included in the simulation and the
propagation direction, beam shape (plane wave, focussed paraxial, constant
crossed, or constant magnetic), and time envelope of each can be independently
specified.Comment: Submitted to Comp. Phys. Comm. The associated computer program and
corresponding manual will be made available on the CPC librar
Umbral Moonshine and the Niemeier Lattices
In this paper we relate umbral moonshine to the Niemeier lattices: the 23
even unimodular positive-definite lattices of rank 24 with non-trivial root
systems. To each Niemeier lattice we attach a finite group by considering a
naturally defined quotient of the lattice automorphism group, and for each
conjugacy class of each of these groups we identify a vector-valued mock
modular form whose components coincide with mock theta functions of Ramanujan
in many cases. This leads to the umbral moonshine conjecture, stating that an
infinite-dimensional module is assigned to each of the Niemeier lattices in
such a way that the associated graded trace functions are mock modular forms of
a distinguished nature. These constructions and conjectures extend those of our
earlier paper, and in particular include the Mathieu moonshine observed by
Eguchi-Ooguri-Tachikawa as a special case. Our analysis also highlights a
correspondence between genus zero groups and Niemeier lattices. As a part of
this relation we recognise the Coxeter numbers of Niemeier root systems with a
type A component as exactly those levels for which the corresponding classical
modular curve has genus zero.Comment: 181 pages including 95 pages of Appendices; journal version, minor
typos corrected, Research in the Mathematical Sciences, 2014, vol.
Final evaluation of the saving gateway 2 pilot: main report
The Saving Gateway is a government initiative aimed at encouraging savings behaviour among people who do not usually save. Each pound placed into a Saving Gateway account is matched by the government at a certain rate and up to a monthly contribution limit. Matching provides a transparent and understandable incentive for eligible individuals to place funds in an account
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