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MPINP:
Research group A. Di Piazza – Division C. H. Keitel
Abstract:
In this work we study Nonlinear Compton Scattering, one of the most fundamental
processes of Quantum Electrodynamics in a strong electromagnetic field background.
One can imagine Nonlinear Compton Scattering as a process where a free
electron scatters with a laser field, and while doing so it generates radiation. With
the imminent inauguration of some Petawatt laser facilities, Nonlinear Compton
Scattering will be routinely tested, especially in order to understand the dynamics
of plasmas interacting with strong fields.
Despite its promising applications, this process has always been studied for
single particles with a well-defined initial momentum. We will show which effects
arise when initially one or multiple electrons are in a wave packet state; in particular,
we will be interested in which modifications are brought about by quantum effects,
and which instead have a classical explanation. Moreover, in the multi-particle
case, we will focus on the coherence of the emitted radiation, and calculate how
quantum effects limit the frequencies at which the radiation can be coherent even
at a regime typically associated with Classical Electrodynamics.
