Nonlinear QED in an ultrastrong rotating electric field: Signatures of the momentum-dependent effective mass

The specific features of nonlinear pair production and radiation processes in an ultratsrong rotating electric field are investigated, taking into account that this field models the antinodes of counterpropagating laser beams. It is shown that a particle in a rotating electric field acquires an effective mass which depends on its momentum absolute value as well as on its direction with respect to the field plane. This phenomenon has an impact on the nonlinear Breit-Wheeler and nonlinear Compton processes. The spectra of the produced pairs in the first case, and the emitted photon in the second case, are shown to bear signatures of the effective mass. In the first case, the threshold for pair production by a $\gamma$-photon in the presence of this field varies according to the photon propagation direction. In the second case, varying the energy of the incoming electron allows for the measurement of the momentum dependence of the effective mass. Two corresponding experimental setups are suggested

Semi-classical limitations for photon emission in strong external fields

The semi-classical heuristic emission formula of Baier-Katkov [Sov. Phys. JETP \textbf{26}, 854 (1968)] is well-known to describe radiation of an ultrarelativistic electron in strong external fields employing the electron's classical trajectory. To find the limitations of the Baier-Katkov approach, we investigate electron radiation in a strong rotating electric field quantum mechanically using the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approximation. Except for an ultrarelativistic velocity, it is shown that an additional condition is required in order to recover the widely used semi-classical result. A violation of this condition leads to two consequences. First, it gives rise to qualitative discrepancy in harmonic spectra between the two approaches. Second, the quantum harmonic spectra are determined not only by the classical trajectory but also by the dispersion relation of the effective photons of the external field

Anomalous violation of the local constant field approximation in colliding laser beams

It is commonly assumed that in ultrastrong laser fields, when the strong field parameter of the laser field $\xi$ is larger than one, the electron radiation is well described by the local constant field approximation (LCFA). We discuss the failure of this conjecture, considering radiation of an ultrarelativistic electron interacting with strong counterpropagating laser waves. A deviation from LCFA, in particular in the high-frequency domain, is shown to occur even at $\xi\gg 1$ because of the appearance of an additional small time scale in the trajectory. Moreover, we identify a new class of LCFA violation, when the radiation formation length becomes smaller than the one via LCFA. It is characterized by a broad and smooth spectrum rather than an harmonic structure. A similar phenomenon is also demonstrated in the scenario of an electron colliding with an ultrashort laser pulse. The relevance to laser-plasma kinetic simulations is discussed

Ultrarelativistic electrons in counterpropagating laser beams

The dynamics and radiation of ultrarelativistic electrons in strong counterpropagating laser beams are investigated. Assuming that the particle energy is the dominant scale in the problem, an approximate solution of classical equations of motion is derived and the characteristic features of the motion are examined. A specific regime is found with comparable strong field quantum parameters of the beams, when the electron trajectory exhibits ultrashort spike-like features, which bears great significance to the corresponding radiation properties. An analytical expression for the spectral distribution of spontaneous radiation is derived in the framework of the Baier-Katkov semiclassical approximation based on the classical trajectory. All the analytical results are further validated by exact numerical calculations. We consider a non-resonant regime of interaction, when the laser frequencies in the electron rest frame are far from each other, avoiding stimulated emission. Special attention is devoted to settings when the description of radiation via the local constant field approximation fails and to corresponding spectral features. Periodic and non-periodic regimes are considered, when lab frequencies of the laser waves are always commensurate. The sensitivity of spectra with respect to the electron beam spread, focusing and finite duration of the laser beams is explored.Comment: 23 papes, 10 figure

High-brilliance ultra-narrow-band x-rays via electron radiation in colliding laser pulses

A setup of a unique x-ray source is put forward employing a relativistic electron beam interacting with two counter-propagating laser pulses in the nonlinear few-photon regime. In contrast to Compton scattering (CS) sources, the envisaged x-ray source exhibits an extremely narrow relative bandwidth of $10^{-5}$ to $10^{-4}$, comparable to the x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL). The brilliance of the x-rays can be $2 - 3$ orders of magnitude higher than a state-of-the-art CS source, while the angle spreading of the radiation is much smaller. By tuning the laser intensities and the electron energy, one can realize either a single peak or a comb-like x-ray source around keV energy. The laser intensity and the electron energy in the suggested setup are rather moderate, rendering this scheme compact and table-top size, as opposed to XFEL and synchrotron infrastructures

Collisional shock waves induced by laser radiation pressure

The formation of a collisional shock wave by the light pressure of a short-laser pulse at intensities in the range of 10(18)-10(23) W/cm(2) is considered. In this regime the thermodynamic parameters of the equilibrium states, before and after the shock transition, are related to the relativistic Rankine-Hugoniot equations. The electron and ion temperatures associated with these shock waves are calculated. It is shown that if the time scale of energy dissipation is shorter than the laser pulse duration a collisional shock is formed. The electrons and the ions in the shock-heated layer may have equal or different temperatures, depending on the laser pulse duration, the material density and the laser intensity. This shock wave may serve as a heating mechanism in a fast ignition scheme

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the dynamic properties of aluminum with helium bubbles

The dynamic behavior of aluminum containing helium bubbles was investigated in shock wave experiments. The targets were obtained by mixing melted pure aluminum with 1800 appm 10B powder. After solidification, the targets were neutron irradiated to obtain helium atoms in the bulk from the reaction 10B+n→7Li+4He. Helium atoms further accumulated into bubbles by diffusion in the aluminum bulk. Shock wave experiments were performed by accelerating aluminum impactor into three types of samples: (1) pure aluminum, (2) Al-10B and (3) Al-10B with different concentrations of helium bubbles and different radii. The bubbles radii and concentration were determined experimentally using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The number of helium atoms in a bubble was calculated from the Electron Energy Loss Spectrum (EELS). The following results were obtained in the experiments: The maximum free surface velocity of shocked samples made Al-10B and Al-10B with different concentrations of helium bubbles and different radii was similar, implying that the pressure on the Hugoniot was the same. Moreover, it was found that the spall strength of these samples was the same. However, it was measured that the spall strength of pure aluminum samples was by 47% higher than that of Al-10B and Al-10B with bubbles samples. An equation of state (EOS) model was developed for describing aluminum with helium bubbles. The bubbles radii and concentrations were used as input parameters in the model. The calculated Hugoniot curve for aluminum with bubbles was not sensitive to the existence of helium, for mass ratio of 10−5 between helium and aluminum, typical for the experiments. This finding is in agreement with the experimental results