Spin polarization of electrons by ultraintense lasers

Del Sorbo, D.; Seipt, D.; Blackburn, T. G.; Thomas, A. G. R.; Murphy, C. D.; Kirk, J. G.; Ridgers, C. P.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.96.043407

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Spin polarization of electrons by ultraintense lasers

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Kirk, J. G.
Division Prof. Dr. Werner Hofmann, MPI for Nuclear Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Del Sorbo, D., Seipt, D., Blackburn, T. G., Thomas, A. G. R., Murphy, C. D., Kirk, J. G., et al. (2017). Spin polarization of electrons by ultraintense lasers. Physical Review A, 96(4): 043407. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.96.043407.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0001-006E-4

Abstract

Electrons in plasmas produced by next-generation ultraintense lasers (I > 5 x 10(22)W/cm(2)) can be spin polarized to a high degree (10%-70%) by the laser pulses on a femtosecond time scale. This is due to electrons undergoing spin-flip transitions as they radiate gamma-ray photons, preferentially spin polarizing in one direction. Spin polarization can modify the radiation reaction force on the electrons, which differs by up to 30% for opposite spin polarizations. Consequently, the polarization of the radiated gamma-ray photons is also modified: the relative power radiated in the sigma and pi components increases and decreases by up to 30%, respectively, potentially reducing the rate of pair production in the plasma by up to 30%.