Quantum Quenching of Radiation Losses in Short Laser Pulses

Authors

CN Harvey
A Gonoskov
A Ilderton
M Marklund

Abstract

Accelerated charges radiate, and therefore must lose energy. The impact of this energy loss on particle motion, called radiation reaction, becomes significant in intense-laser matter interactions, where it can reduce collision energies, hinder particle acceleration schemes, and is seemingly unavoidable. Here we show that this common belief breaks down in short laser pulses, and that energy losses and radiation reaction can be controlled and effectively switched off by appropriate tuning of the pulse length. This "quenching" of emission is impossible in classical physics, but becomes possible in QED due to the discrete nature of quantum emissions.

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.105004

Publication Date

2017-03-10

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Volume

118

Issue

10

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)

ISSN

1079-7114

Embargo Period

2024-11-22

Comments

Acceptance date not available: used date of last revision on arXiv

Recommended Citation

Harvey, C., Gonoskov, A., Ilderton, A., & Marklund, M. (2017) 'Quantum Quenching of Radiation Losses in Short Laser Pulses', Physical Review Letters, 118(10). American Physical Society (APS): Available at: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.105004