Electron heating in the laser and static electric and magnetic fields

TL;DR

This paper presents a 3/2 dimensional Hamiltonian approach to describe electron dynamics in intense laser and static electromagnetic fields, revealing stochastic motion causes electron acceleration beyond standard models.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified Hamiltonian framework for analyzing electron behavior in combined laser and static fields, highlighting the role of stochastic motion in acceleration.

Findings

Electron acceleration exceeds ponderomotive scaling.

Stochastic electron motion is key to enhanced acceleration.

The 3/2D Hamiltonian approach effectively models these dynamics.

Abstract

A 2D slab approximation of the interactions of electrons with intense linearly polarized laser radiation and static electric and magnetic fields is widely used for both numerical simulations and simplified semi-analytical models. It is shown that in this case electron dynamics can be conveniently described in the framework of 3/2 dimensional Hamiltonian approach. The electron acceleration beyond a standard ponderomotive scaling, caused by the synergistic effects of the laser and static electro-magnetic fields, is due to an onset of stochastic electron motion.