Nonlinear Compton scattering in a strong rotating electric field

Erez Raicher, Shalom Eliezer, and Arie Zigler
Phys. Rev. A 94, 062105 – Published 6 December 2016

Abstract

The nonlinear Compton scattering rate in a rotating electric field is explicitly calculated. For this purpose, an approximate solution to the Klein-Gordon equation in the presence of a rotating electric field is applied. An analytical expression for the emission rate is obtained, as well as a simplified approximation adequate for implementation in kinetic codes. The spectrum is numerically calculated for present-day optical and x-ray laser parameters. The results are compared to the standard Volkov-Ritus rate for a particle in a plane wave, which is commonly assumed to be valid for a rotating electric field under certain conditions. Substantial deviations between the two models, in both the radiated power and the spectral shape, are demonstrated. First, the typical number of photons participating in the scattering process is much smaller compared to the Volkov-Ritus rate, resulting in up to an order of magnitude lower emitted power. Furthermore, our model predicts a discrete harmonic spectrum for electrons with low asymptotic momentum compared to the field amplitude. This discrete structure is a clear imprint of the electric field frequency, as opposed to the Volkov-Ritus rate, which reduces to the constant crossed field rate for the physical conditions under consideration. Our model predictions can be tested with present-day laser facilities.

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  • Received 3 June 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.94.062105

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Plasma PhysicsParticles & Fields

Authors & Affiliations

Erez Raicher1,2,*, Shalom Eliezer2,3, and Arie Zigler1

  • 1Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
  • 2Department of Applied Physics, Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Yavne 81800, Israel
  • 3Nuclear Fusion Institute, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

  • *erez.raicher@mail.huji.ac.il

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Vol. 94, Iss. 6 — December 2016

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