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arXiv · 2307.02114

Kinetic theory for spin-polarized relativistic plasmas

Daniel Seipt·Alec G. R. Thomas
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Abstract

The investigation of spin and polarization effects in ultra-high intensity laser-plasma and laser-beam interactions has become an emergent topic in high-field science recently. In this paper we derive a relativistic kinetic description of spin-polarized plasmas, where QED effects are taken into account via Boltzmann-type collision operators under the local constant field approximation. The emergence of anomalous precession is derived from one-loop self-energy contributions in a strong background field. We are interested, in particular, in the interplay between radiation reaction effects and the spin polarization of the radiating particles. For this we derive equations for spin-polarized quantum radiation reaction from moments of the spin-polarized kinetic equations. By comparing with the classical theory, we identify and discuss the spin-dependent radiation reaction terms, and radiative contributions to spin dynamics.

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Daniel Seipt, Alec G. R. Thomas. 2023-07-05. Kinetic theory for spin-polarized relativistic plasmas. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0165836

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