Signatures of quantum effects on radiation reaction in laser-electron-beam collisions

• 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.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

plasma dynamics

plasma simulation

intense particle beams

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)