Ultrarelativistic electron beam polarization in single-shot interaction with an ultraintense laser pulse

Authors:
  • YLYan-Fei Li
    Yan-Fei Li
  • RSRashid Shaisultanov
    Rashid Shaisultanov
  • KHKaren Z. Hatsagortsyan
    Karen Z. Hatsagortsyan
  • FWFeng Wan
    Feng Wan
  • CKChristoph H. Keitel
    Christoph H. Keitel
  • JLJian-Xing Li
    Jian-Xing Li
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Abstract
Spin-polarization of an ultrarelativistic electron beam head-on colliding with an ultraintense laser pulse is investigated in the quantum radiation-reaction regime. We develop a Monte-Carlo method to model electron radiative spin effects in arbitrary electromagnetic fields by employing spin-resolved radiation probabilities in the local constant field approximation. Due to spin-dependent radiation reaction, the applied elliptically polarized laser pulse polarizes the initially unpolarized electron beam and splits it along the propagation direction into two oppositely transversely polarized parts with a splitting angle of about tens of milliradians. Thus, a dense electron beam with above 70\% polarization can be generated in tens of femtoseconds. The proposed method demonstrates a way for relativistic electron beam polarization with currently achievable laser facilities.
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