Probing the electron charge distribution via Kapitza-Dirac diffraction

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electron charge distributions affect Kapitza-Dirac diffraction patterns, offering a method to experimentally probe the electron's charge structure beyond the point-like approximation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using charge distribution models and multi-pole moments to analyze diffraction, providing a new way to explore electron wave nature.

Findings

Diffraction patterns can set bounds on electron charge multipole moments.

Charge distribution effects influence diffraction outcomes.

Method offers a new experimental probe of electron charge structure.

Abstract

We analyze the diffraction of elementary systems as the electron by light gratings when they are described by charge distributions instead of the usual point-like form. The treatment of the problem is based on the introduction, in analogy with atomic polarizability, of state-dependent non-permanent multi-pole moments for the charge. The diffraction patterns can provide bounds on these moments. With this approach we can experimentally explore some aspects of the interpretation of the wave picture of single charges.