Bremen 2017 – scientific programme

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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik

P 19: Plasma Diagnostics IV

P 19.2: Talk

Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 15:15–15:30, HS 1010

Classical spin dynamics of electrons in strong electromagnetic fields — •Meng Wen, Heiko Bauke, and Christoph H. Keitel — Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

Dynamics of an electron in strong fields includes the precession of the spin as well as its orbital motion, which is determined by the Lorentz force, a spin-dependent Stern-Gerlach force and a radiation-reaction force. Classical investigations, however, often treat the electron as a spinless particle because of the lack of a definite classical unified description of the electron’s orbital motion and its spin dynamics. Although many classical models have been proposed to include the spin, the validity of them was seldom investigated. We investigate the reliability of different classical spin models by numerical comparisons to the Dirac theory for specific strong-field setups and suggest a reliable model [1]. In strong fields where effects of the Stern-Gerlach force become relevant also radiation reactions are expected to set in [2]. Depending on the electron’s energy and the field configuration either radiation reactions or spin effects may dominate. Spin contributions may be identified by considering electrons of opposite spin state and radiation reactions are verifiable by spin-averaged electron beams.

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