Electron distributions in nonlinear Compton scattering

TL;DR

This paper studies how electrons are scattered in nonlinear Compton effect using quantum theory, revealing small directional deviations but significant energy distribution changes under various laser and electron conditions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed quantum analysis of electron distributions in nonlinear Compton scattering, including pulsed plane waves and various experimental parameters.

Findings

Electron deviations in direction are extremely small.

Electron energy distributions can differ significantly from initial energies.

Results depend on pulse shape, laser intensity, and electron energy.

Abstract

Based on quantum theory, we investigate the distribution of the electrons scattered in nonlinear Compton effect by an electromagnetic plane wave. Deviations of the final electron momentum from its initial value are solely due to quantum effects. The monochromatic case, examined in detail, reveals features of the electron distribution, useful in the understanding of the pulsed plane wave case for particular intensity and electron energy regimes. The graphs displayed focus on the case of head-on or near head-on collision of an energetic electron with an electromagnetic circularly polarized pulsed plane wave and show that the deviation in direction is extremely small, while the distribution in energy can be visibly different from that of the initial electron. Two pulse shapes, several laser intensities and high incident electron energies are considered.