Recoil Momentum Effects in Quantum Processes Induced by Twisted Photons

TL;DR

This paper explores how twisted photons influence quantum processes across various energy scales, revealing that their angular momentum causes recoil effects that alter reaction thresholds and produce observable sidebands.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that twisted photons induce transverse recoil effects, modifying reaction thresholds and generating new spectral features in diverse quantum processes.

Findings

Recoil effects increase the threshold energy for photon-induced reactions.

New transverse-motion sidebands emerge in photo-absorption on trapped ions.

Threshold modifications are predicted for astrophysical pair production.

Abstract

We consider physical processes caused by the twisted photons for a wide range of energy scales, from optical (eV) to nuclear (MeV) to high-energy gamma-rays (TeV). We demonstrate that in order to satisfy angular momentum conservation, absorption of a twisted photon leads to a transverse recoil of the final particle or a system of particles leading to increased threshold energy required for the reaction to proceed. Modification of the threshold energy is predicted for (a) Photo-absorption on colds trapped ions of $^{40}$Ca, along with emerging new transverse-motion sidebands, (b) photo-disintegration of deuterium and (c) photo-production of electron-positron pairs in astrophysics environment.