Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ-photons
Understanding and interpretation of the dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma is a challenge, which calls for the development of methods for in situ probing the plasma dynamical characteristics. We put forward a new method, harnessing polarization properties of γ-photons emitted from a non-prepolariz...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Physical Review Research |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L022024 |
| _version_ | 1797210789251121152 |
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| author | Zheng Gong Karen Z. Hatsagortsyan Christoph H. Keitel |
| author_facet | Zheng Gong Karen Z. Hatsagortsyan Christoph H. Keitel |
| author_sort | Zheng Gong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding and interpretation of the dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma is a challenge, which calls for the development of methods for in situ probing the plasma dynamical characteristics. We put forward a new method, harnessing polarization properties of γ-photons emitted from a non-prepolarized plasma irradiated by a circularly polarized pulse. We show that the angular pattern of γ-photon linear polarization is explicitly correlated with the dynamics of the radiating electrons, which provides information on the laser-plasma interaction regime. Furthermore, with the γ-photon circular polarization originating from the electron radiative spin flips, the plasma susceptibility to quantum electrodynamical processes is gauged. Our study demonstrates that the polarization signal of emitted γ-photons can be a versatile information source, which would be beneficial for the research fields of laser-driven plasma, accelerator science, and laboratory astrophysics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:16:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d80bb0df89b420e99222a2380ffeee2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2643-1564 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:16:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d80bb0df89b420e99222a2380ffeee22024-04-12T17:20:25ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642022-04-0142L02202410.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L022024Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ-photonsZheng GongKaren Z. HatsagortsyanChristoph H. KeitelUnderstanding and interpretation of the dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma is a challenge, which calls for the development of methods for in situ probing the plasma dynamical characteristics. We put forward a new method, harnessing polarization properties of γ-photons emitted from a non-prepolarized plasma irradiated by a circularly polarized pulse. We show that the angular pattern of γ-photon linear polarization is explicitly correlated with the dynamics of the radiating electrons, which provides information on the laser-plasma interaction regime. Furthermore, with the γ-photon circular polarization originating from the electron radiative spin flips, the plasma susceptibility to quantum electrodynamical processes is gauged. Our study demonstrates that the polarization signal of emitted γ-photons can be a versatile information source, which would be beneficial for the research fields of laser-driven plasma, accelerator science, and laboratory astrophysics.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L022024 |
| spellingShingle | Zheng Gong Karen Z. Hatsagortsyan Christoph H. Keitel Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ-photons Physical Review Research |
| title | Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ-photons |
| title_full | Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ-photons |
| title_fullStr | Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ-photons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ-photons |
| title_short | Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ-photons |
| title_sort | deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted γ photons |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L022024 |
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