Generalized Klein-Nishina formula

TL;DR

This paper derives a generalized Klein-Nishina formula for Compton scattering with finite pulse trains, enabling precise diagnostics of intense short laser pulses' properties in quantum electrodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a new generalized formula applicable to finite pulse trains, extending previous models and allowing detailed analysis of laser pulse characteristics.

Findings

The formula applies to both quantum and classical scattering regimes.

Numerical examples validate the formula's accuracy for different pulse durations.

It enables identification of relativistically intense laser pulse parameters.

Abstract

The generalized Klein-Nishina formula for Compton scattering of charged particles by a finite train of pulses is derived in the framework of quantum electrodynamics. The formula also applies to classical Thomson scattering provided that frequencies of generated radiation are smaller that the cut-off frequency. The validity of the formula for incident pulses of different durations is illustrated by numerical examples. The positions of the well-resolved Compton peaks, with the clear labeling by integer orders, opens up the possibility of the precise diagnostics of properties of relativistically intense, short laser pulses. This includes their peak intensity, the carrier-envelope phase, and their polarization properties.