Quantum \v{C}erenkov Radiation: Spectral Cutoffs and the Role of Spin and Orbital Angular Momentum

TL;DR

This paper reveals quantum phenomena in renkov radiation, showing how spin and orbital angular momentum influence spectral and angular features, including spectral cutoffs and backward shockwaves, with potential applications in quantum optics and detection.

Contribution

It introduces the role of spin and orbital angular momentum in renkov radiation, predicting spectral discontinuities and novel shockwave phenomena observable with realistic electron beams.

Findings

Spectral cutoff causes a discontinuity below a certain frequency.

renkov angle can split into two cones, including a backward-moving shockwave.

Predictions are feasible with realistic electron beam parameters.

Abstract

We show that the well-known \v{C}erenkov Effect contains new phenomena arising from the quantum nature of charged particles. The \v{C}erenkov transition amplitudes allow coupling between the charged particle and the emitted photon through their orbital angular momentum (OAM) and spin, by scattering into preferred angles and polarizations. Importantly, the spectral response reveals a discontinuity immediately below a frequency cutoff that can occur in the optical region. Specifically, with proper shaping of electron beams (ebeams), we predict that the traditional \v{C}erenkov radiation angle splits into two distinctive cones of photonic shockwaves. One of the shockwaves can move along a backward cone, otherwise considered impossible for \v{C}erenkov radiation in ordinary matter. Our findings are observable for ebeams with realistic parameters, offering new applications including novel quantum optics sources, and open a new realm for \v{C}erenkov detectors involving the spin and orbital angular momentum of charged particles.