Signatures of quantum effects on radiation reaction in laser-electron-beam collisions
Journal article, 2017

Two signatures of quantum effects on radiation reaction in the collision of a similar to GeV electron beam with a high intensity (>3 x 10(20) W cm(-2)) laser pulse have been considered. We show that the decrease in the average energy of the electron beam may be used to measure the Gaunt factor g for synchrotron emission. We derive an equation for the evolution of the variance in the energy of the electron beam in the quantum regime, i.e. quantum efficiency parameter eta (sic) 1. We show that the evolution of the variance may be used as a direct measure of the quantum stochasticity of the radiation reaction and determine the parameter regime where this is observable. For example, stochastic emission results in a 25 % increase in the standard deviation of the energy spectrum of a GeV electron beam, 1 fs after it collides with a laser pulse of intensity 10(21) W cm(-2). This effect should therefore be measurable using current high-intensity laser systems.

plasma dynamics

plasma simulation

intense particle beams

Author

C. P. Ridgers

University of York

Tom Blackburn

Chalmers, Physics, Theoretical Physics

D. Del Sorbo

University of York

L. E. Bradley

University of York

C. Slade-Lowther

University of York

C. D. Baird

University of York

S. P. D. Mangles

Imperial College London

P. McKenna

University of Strathclyde

Mattias Marklund

Chalmers, Physics, Condensed Matter Theory

C. D. Murphy

University of York

A. G. R. Thomas

Daresbury Laboratory

University of Michigan

Lancaster University

Journal of Plasma Physics

0022-3778 (ISSN) 1469-7807 (eISSN)

Vol. 83 5 715830502

Subject Categories

Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

DOI

10.1017/s0022377817000642

More information

Latest update

5/3/2018 9