We show that the well-known \v{C}erenkov Effect contains new phenomena
arising from the quantum nature of charged particles. The \v{C}erenkov
transition amplitudes allow coupling between the charged particle and the
emitted photon through their orbital angular momentum (OAM) and spin, by
scattering into preferred angles and polarizations. Importantly, the spectral
response reveals a discontinuity immediately below a frequency cutoff that can
occur in the optical region. Specifically, with proper shaping of electron
beams (ebeams), we predict that the traditional \v{C}erenkov radiation angle
splits into two distinctive cones of photonic shockwaves. One of the shockwaves
can move along a backward cone, otherwise considered impossible for
\v{C}erenkov radiation in ordinary matter. Our findings are observable for
ebeams with realistic parameters, offering new applications including novel
quantum optics sources, and open a new realm for \v{C}erenkov detectors
involving the spin and orbital angular momentum of charged particles.Comment: 27 pages, 3 figure

Harari, Gal

Herzig Sheinfux, Hanan

Joannopoulos, John D.

Joannopoulos, John D.

Kaminer, Ido Efraim

Levy, Amir

Mutzafi, Maor

Nemirovsky, Jonathan

Segev, Mordechai

Skirlo, Scott A.

Soljacic, Marin

Physical Review X

English

arXiv

We show that the well-known Čerenkov effect contains new phenomena arising from the quantum nature of charged particles. The Čerenkov transition amplitudes allow coupling between the charged particle and the emitted photon through their orbital angular momentum and spin, by scattering into preferred angles and polarizations. Importantly, the spectral response reveals a discontinuity immediately below a frequency cutoff that can occur in the optical region. Near this cutoff, the intensity of the conventional Čerenkov radiation (ČR) is very small but still finite, while our quantum calculation predicts exactly zero intensity above the cutoff. Below that cutoff, with proper shaping of electron beams (ebeams), we predict that the traditional ČR angle splits into two distinctive cones of photonic shockwaves. One of the shockwaves can move along a backward cone, otherwise considered impossible for conventional ČR in ordinary matter. Our findings are observable for ebeams with realistic parameters, offering new applications including novel quantum optics sources, and opening a new realm for Čerenkov detectors involving the spin and orbital angular momentum of charged particles

Ido Kaminer

Maor Mutzafi

Amir Levy

Gal Harari

Hanan Herzig Sheinfux

Scott Skirlo

Jonathan Nemirovsky

John D. Joannopoulos

Mordechai Segev

Marin Soljačić

Directory of Open Access Journals

Quantum Čerenkov Radiation: Spectral Cutoffs and the Role of Spin and Orbital Angular Momentum

Crossref

We show that the well-known Cerenkov effect contains new phenomena arising from the quantum nature of charged particles. The Cerenkov transition amplitudes allow coupling between the charged particle and the emitted photon through their orbital angular momentum and spin, by scattering into preferred angles and polarizations. Importantly, the spectral response reveals a discontinuity immediately below a frequency cutoff that can occur in the optical region. Near this cutoff, the intensity of the conventional Cerenkov radiation (CR) is very small but still finite, while our quantum calculation predicts exactly zero intensity above the cutoff. Below that cutoff, with proper shaping of electron beams (ebeams), we predict that the traditional CR angle splits into two distinctive cones of photonic shockwaves. One of the shockwaves can move along a backward cone, otherwise considered impossible for conventional CR in ordinary matter. Our findings are observable for ebeams with realistic parameters, offering new applications including novel quantum optics sources, and opening a new realm for Cerenkov detectors involving the spin and orbital angular momentum of charged particles.United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation. Transformative Science ProgramIsraeli Centers of Research ExcellenceMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (Contract W911NF-13-D-0001)Seventh Framework Programme (European Commission) (Grant Agreement 328853—MC—BSiCS

Joannopoulos, John

DSpace@MIT

Quantum Cerenkov Radiation: Spectral Cutoffs and the Role of Spin and Orbital Angular Momentum