Symmetry breaking from radiation reaction in ultra-intense laser fields

Abstract

We discuss radiation reaction effects on charges propagating in ultraintense laser fields. Our analysis is based on an analytic solution of the Landau-Lifshitz equation. We suggest quantifying radiation reaction in terms of a symmetry breaking parameter associated with the violation of null translation invariance in the direction opposite to the laser beam. As the Landau-Lifshitz equation is nonlinear, the energy transfer within the pulse is rather sensitive to initial conditions. This is elucidated by comparing colliding and fixed target modes in electron laser collisions. © 2011 American Physical Society.