Anomalous radiative trapping in laser fields of extreme intensity

TL;DR

This paper introduces anomalous radiative trapping (ART), a novel phenomenon where charged particles are confined and oscillate at electric field maxima in intense laser fields, enabling new high-energy radiation and particle beam applications.

Contribution

The study reveals a new trapping mechanism, ART, occurring in extreme laser fields, with potential for advanced particle control and high-energy radiation generation.

Findings

Charged particles are compressed and oscillate at electric field maxima in intense standing waves.

ART enables high-energy, directed, and collimated radiation and particle beams.

Provides a new mechanism for particle control in high-intensity QED experiments.

Abstract

We demonstrate that charged particles in a sufficiently intense standing wave are compressed toward, and oscillate synchronously at, the maxima of the electric field. This unusual trapping behaviour, which we call 'anomalous radiative trapping' (ART), opens up new possibilities for the generation of radiation and particle beams, both of which are high-energy, directed and collimated. ART also provides a mechanism for particle control in high-intensity QED experiments.