Resonant Interaction of Modulation-correlated Quantum Electron Wavepackets with Bound Electron States

TL;DR

This paper develops a relativistic quantum mechanical theory for the resonant interaction between modulation-correlated quantum electron wavepackets and bound electron states, revealing wave-particle duality and potential superradiance effects.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model for free-electron bound-electron resonant interactions, including phase correlation effects and superradiance predictions.

Findings

Reveals wave-particle duality in electron wavepacket interactions.

Predicts quantum transition enhancement proportional to electron number squared.

Describes regimes of point-particle-like and wave-like interactions.

Abstract

Free-Electron Bound-Electron Resonant Interaction (FEBERI) is the resonant inelastic interaction of periodically density-bunched free electrons with a quantum two level system. We present a comprehensive relativistic quantum mechanical theory for this interaction in a model in which the electrons are represented as quantum electron wavepackets (QEW). The analysis reveals the wave-particle duality nature of the QEW, delineating the point-particle-like and wave-like interaction regimes, and manifesting the physical reality of the wavefunction dimensions and its density modulation characteristics in interaction with matter. The analysis comprehends the case of laser-beam-modulated multiple QEWs that are modulation-phase correlated. Based on the Born interpretation of the electron wavefunction we predict quantum transitions enhancement proportional to the number of electrons squared, analogous to superradiance.