Hannover 2016 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 51: Quantum Effects: QED I
Q 51.4: Talk
Thursday, March 3, 2016, 11:45–12:00, f442
The classical-quantum transition in the theory of free-electron lasers — •Peter Kling1,2, Enno Giese2, Rainer Endrich2, Roland Sauerbrey1, and Wolfgang P. Schleich2,3 — 1Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, D-01314 Dresden — 2Universität Ulm, D-89069 Ulm — 3Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
The free-electron laser (FEL) is the best known example for a ‘Classical Laser’ [1]. However, there exists a regime where quantum mechanics is relevant and at some point even dominates the dynamics [2,3]. In this talk we pursue the goal to calculate the corrections to the classical FEL when quantum effects start to become perceivable.
Employing the formalism of the Wigner distribution function we find the quantum corrections to the gain of the FEL in the low-gain, small-signal regime. We demonstrate that these corrections scale with powers of the quantum mechanical recoil the electron experiences when it scatters off the photons of the wiggler and the laser field. Moreover, the width of the initial momentum distribution of the electron has to be small enough to ensure for quantum corrections to be visible.
[1] M. Borenstein and W. E. Lamb, Phys. Rev. A 5, 1298–1311 uiuaa(1972).
[2] R. Bonifacio , N. Piovella and G. R. M. Robb, Fortschr. Phys. uiuaa57, 1041–1051 (2009).
[3] P. Kling, E. Giese, R. Endrich, P. Preiss, R. Sauerbrey and uiuaaW. P. Schleich; accepted for New J. Phys. (Oct. 2015).