Spin-one-half particles in strong electromagnetic fields: spin effects and radiation reaction

TL;DR

This paper compares classical models of electron spin in strong electromagnetic fields, highlighting differences in predictions about spin effects and radiation reaction, and suggests experimental tests to distinguish these models.

Contribution

It analyzes and contrasts the Frenkel and Foldy-Wouthuysen models, identifying regimes where they differ and remain distinguishable even with radiation-reaction effects.

Findings

Different models predict contrasting spin effects on electron motion.

Radiation reaction influences electron trajectories but does not unify model predictions.

The study provides a basis for experimental tests of classical spin models.

Abstract

Various classical models of electrons including their spin degrees of freedom are commonly applied to describe the electron dynamics in strong electromagnetic fields. We demonstrate that different models can lead to different or even contradicting predictions regarding how the spin degree of freedom modifies the electron's orbital motion when the electron moves in strong electromagnetic fields. This discrepancy is rooted in the model-specific energy dependency of the spin-induced Stern-Gerlach force acting on the electron. The Frenkel model and the classical Foldy-Wouthuysen model are compared exemplarily in the nonrelativistic and the relativistic limits in order to identify parameter regimes where these classical models make different predictions. This allows for experimental tests of these models. In ultrastrong laser setups in parameter regimes where effects of the Stern-Gerlach force become relevant, radiation-reaction effects are also expected to set in. We incorporate the radiation reaction classically via the Landau-Lifshitz equation and demonstrate that although radiation-reaction effects can have a significant effect on the electron trajectory, the Frenkel model and the classical Foldy-Wouthuysen model remain distinguishable also if radiation-reaction effects are taken into account. Our calculations are also suitable to verify the Landau-Lifshitz equation for the radiation reaction of electrons and other spin-1/2 particles.