Scattering by an electromagnetic radiation field

TL;DR

This paper investigates how test particles and various fields scatter when interacting with an electromagnetic plane wave, providing explicit solutions and analyzing the effects of radiation on particle motion and field scattering.

Contribution

It introduces a model for particle-radiation interaction using a Poynting-Robertson-like force and derives explicit analytical solutions for particle motion and field scattering in this context.

Findings

Explicit solutions for particle trajectories in electromagnetic wave fields.

Analysis of scalar, spin-1/2, and electromagnetic field scattering by the wave.

Insights into the influence of radiation strength on scattering behavior.

Abstract

Motion of test particles in the gravitational field associated with an electromagnetic plane wave is investigated. The interaction with the radiation field is modeled by a force term {\it \`a la} Poynting-Robertson entering the equations of motion given by the 4-momentum density of radiation observed in the particle's rest frame with a multiplicative constant factor expressing the strength of the interaction itself. Explicit analytical solutions are obtained. Scattering of fields by the electromagnetic wave, i.e., scalar (spin 0), massless spin $\frac12$ and electromagnetic (spin 1) fields, is studied too.