arXiv subjects

Christoph H. Keitel

Publications and source records attributed to Christoph H. Keitel.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Radiation reaction force induced nonlinear mixing of Raman sidebands of an ultra-intense laser pulse in a plasma

Stimulated Raman scattering of an ultra-intense laser pulse in plasmas is studied by perturbatively including the leading order term of the Landau-Lifshitz radiation reaction force in the equation of motion for plasma electrons. In this approximation, radiation reaction force causes phase shift in nonlinear current densities that drive the two Raman sidebands (anti-Stokes and Stokes waves), manifesting itself into the nonlinear mixing of two sidebands. This mixing results in a strong enhancement in the growth of the forward Raman scattering instability.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2013

High-quality multi-GeV electron bunches via cyclotron autoresonance

Autoresonance laser acceleration of electrons is theoretically investigated using circularly polarized focused Gaussian pulses. Many-particle simulations demonstrate feasibility of creating over 10-GeV electron bunches of ultra-high quality (relative energy spread of order 10^-4), suitable for fundamental high-energy particle physics research. The laser peak intensities and axial magnetic field strengths required are up to about 10^18 W/cm^2 (peak power ~10 PW) and 60 T, respectively. Gains exceeding 100 GeV are shown to be possible when weakly focused pulses from a 200-PW laser facility are used.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2013

Computational relativistic quantum dynamics and its application to relativistic tunneling and Kapitza-Dirac scattering

Computational methods are indispensable to study the quantum dynamics of relativistic light-matter interactions in parameter regimes where analytical methods become inapplicable. We present numerical methods for solving the time-dependent Dirac equation and the time-dependent Klein-Gordon equation and their implementation on high performance graphics cards. These methods allow us to study tunneling from hydrogen-like highly charged ions in strong laser fields and Kapitza-Dirac scattering in the relativistic regime.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Quantum interference effects in an ensemble of $^{229}$Th nuclei interacting with coherent light

As a unique feature, the $^{229}$Th nucleus has an isomeric transition in the vacuum ultraviolet that can be accessed by optical lasers. The interference effects occurring in the interaction between coherent optical light and an ensemble of $^{229}$Th nuclei are investigated theoretically. We consider the scenario of nuclei doped in vacuum ultraviolet-vacuum ultraviolet transparent crystals and take into account the effect of different doping sites and therefore different lattice fields that broaden the nuclear transition width. This effect is shown to come in interplay with interference effects due to the hyperfine splitting of the ground and isomeric nuclear states. We investigate possible experimentally available situations involving two-, three- and four-level schemes of quadrupole sublevels of the ground and isomeric nuclear states coupling to one or two coherent fields. Specific configurations which offer clear signatures of the isomer excitation advantageous for the more precise experimental determination of the transition energy are identified. Furthermore, it is shown that population trapping into the isomeric state can be achieved. This paves the way for further nuclear quantum optics applications with $^{229}$Th such as nuclear coherent control.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

A three-beam setup for coherently controlling nuclear state population

The controlled transfer of nuclear state population using two x-ray laser pulses is investigated theoretically. The laser pulses drive two nuclear transitions in a nuclear three-level system facilitating coherent population transfer via the quantum optics technique of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage. To overcome present limitations of the x-ray laser frequency, we envisage accelerated nuclei interacting with two copropagating or crossed x-ray laser pulses in a three-beam setup. We present a systematic study of this setup providing both pulse temporal sequence and laser pulse intensity for optimized control of the nuclear state population. The tolerance for geometrical parameters such as laser beam divergence of the three-beam setup as well as for the velocity spread of the nuclear beam are studied and a two-photon resonance condition to account for experimental uncertainties is deduced. This additional condition gives a less strict requirement for the experimental implementation of the three-beam setup. Present experimental state of the art and future prospects are discussed.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

Under-the-barrier dynamics in laser-induced relativistic tunneling

The tunneling dynamics in relativistic strong-field ionization is investigated with the aim to develop an intuitive picture for the relativistic tunneling regime. We demonstrate that the tunneling picture applies also in the relativistic regime by introducing position dependent energy levels. The quantum dynamics in the classically forbidden region features two time scales, the typical time that characterizes the probability density's decay of the ionizing electron under the barrier (Keldysh time) and the time interval which the electron spends inside the barrier (Eisenbud-Wigner-Smith tunneling time). In the relativistic regime, an electron momentum shift as well as a spatial shift along the laser propagation direction arise during the under-the-barrier motion which are caused by the laser magnetic field induced Lorentz force. The momentum shift is proportional to the Keldysh time, while the wave-packet's spatial drift is proportional to the Eisenbud-Wigner-Smith time. The signature of the momentum shift is shown to be present in the ionization spectrum at the detector and, therefore, observable experimentally. In contrast, the signature of the Eisenbud-Wigner-Smith time delay disappears at far distances for pure quasistatic tunneling dynamics.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

Lorentz meets Fano spectral line shapes: A universal phase and its laser control

Symmetric Lorentzian and asymmetric Fano line shapes are fundamental spectroscopic signatures that quantify the structural and dynamical properties of nuclei, atoms, molecules, and solids. This study introduces a universal temporal-phase formalism, mapping the Fano asymmetry parameter q to a phase ϕ of the time-dependent dipole-response function. The formalism is confirmed experimentally by laser-transforming Fano absorption lines of autoionizing helium into Lorentzian lines after attosecond-pulsed excitation. We also prove the inverse, the transformation of a naturally Lorentzian line into a Fano profile. A further application of this formalism amplifies resonantly interacting extreme-ultraviolet light by quantum-phase control. The quantum phase of excited states and its response to interactions can thus be extracted from line-shape analysis, with scientific applications in many branches of spectroscopy.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

Nuclear recollisions in laser-assisted $α$ decay

Laser-induced nuclear recollisions following $α$ decay in the presence of an intense laser field are investigated theoretically. We show that while an intense optical laser does not influence notably the tunneling rate in $α$ decay, it can completely change the $α$ particle spectrum. For intensities of $10^{22}-10^{23}$ W/cm$^{2}$, the field is strong enough to induce recollisions between the emitted $α$ particle and the daughter nucleus. The energy gained by the $α$ particle in the field can reach 20 MeV and suffice to trigger several types of nuclear reactions on a femtosecond time scale. Similar conclusions can be drawn about laser-induced recollisions after proton emission. Prospects for the experimental realization of laser-induced nuclear recollisions are discussed.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Coherent storage and phase modulation of single hard x-ray photons using nuclear excitons

Coherent storage and phase modulation of x-ray single-photon wave packets in resonant scattering of light off nuclei is investigated theoretically. We show that by switching off and on again the magnetic field in the nuclear sample, phase-sensitive storage of photons in the keV regime can be achieved. Corresponding $π$ phase modulation of the stored photon can be accomplished if the retrieving magnetic field is rotated by $180^{\circ}$. The development of such x-ray single-photon control techniques is a first step towards forwarding quantum optics and quantum information to shorter wavelengths and more compact photonic devices.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

Coherence-enhanced optical determination of the $^{229}$Th isomeric transition

The impact of coherent light propagation on the excitation and fluorescence of thorium nuclei in a crystal lattice environment is investigated theoretically. We find that in the forward direction the fluorescence signal exhibits characteristic intensity modulations dominated by an orders of magnitude faster, sped-up initial decay signal. This feature can be exploited for the optical determination of the isomeric transition energy. In order to obtain a unmistakable signature of the isomeric nuclear fluorescence, we put forward a novel scheme for the direct measurement of the transition energy via electromagnetically modified nuclear forward scattering involving two fields that couple three nuclear states.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Cooperative effects in nuclear excitation with coherent x-ray light

The interaction between super-intense coherent x-ray light and nuclei is studied theoretically. One of the main difficulties with driving nuclear transitions arises from the very narrow nuclear excited state widths which limit the coupling between laser and nuclei. In the context of direct laser-nucleus interaction, we consider the nuclear width broadening that occurs when in solid targets, the excitation caused by a single photon is shared by a large number of nuclei, forming a collective excited state. Our results show that for certain isotopes, cooperative effects may lead to an enhancement of the nuclear excited state population by almost two orders of magnitude. Additionally, an update of previous estimates for nuclear excited state population and signal photons taking into account the experimental advances of the x-ray coherent light sources is given. The presented values are an improvement by orders of magnitude and are encouraging for the future prospects of nuclear quantum optics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Interference-induced peak splitting in EUV superfluorescence

We investigate the laser-induced quantum interference in EUV superfluorescence occurring in a dense gas of $Λ$-type helium atoms coupled by a coherent laser field in the visible region. Due to the constructive interatomic and intraatomic interferences, the superfluorescence can split in two pulses conveniently controlled by the gas density and intensity of the driving field, suggesting potential applications for pump-probe experiments.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Spin dynamics in the Kapitza-Dirac effect

Electron spin dynamics in Kapitza-Dirac scattering from a standing laser wave of high frequency and high intensity is studied. We develop a fully relativistic quantum theory of the electron motion based on the time-dependent Dirac equation. Distinct spin dynamics, with Rabi oscillations and complete spin-flip transitions, is demonstrated for Kapitza-Dirac scattering involving three photons in a parameter regime accessible to future high-power X-ray laser sources. The Rabi frequency and, thus, the diffraction pattern is shown to depend crucially on the spin degree of freedom.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Streaking At High Energies With Electrons And Positrons

State-of-the-art attosecond metrology deals with the detection and characterization of photon pulses with typical energies up to the hundreds of eV and time resolution of several tens of attoseconds. Such short pulses are used for example to control the motion of electrons on the atomic scale or to measure inner-shell atomic dynamics. The next challenge of time-resolving the inner-nuclear dynamics, transient meson states and resonances requires photon pulses below attosecond duration and with energies exceeding the MeV scale. Here we discuss a detection scheme for time-resolving high-energy gamma ray pulses down to the zeptosecond timescale. The scheme is based on the concept of attosecond streak imaging, but instead of conversion of photons into electrons in a nonlinear medium, the high-energy process of electron-positron pair creation is utilized. These pairs are produced in vacuum through the collision of a test pulse to be characterized with an intense laser pulse, and they acquire additional energy and momentum depending on their phase in the streaking pulse at the moment of production. A coincidence measurement of the electron and positron momenta after the interaction provides information on the pair production phase within the streaking pulse. We examine the limitations imposed by quantum radiation reaction in multiphoton Compton scattering on this detection scheme, and discuss other necessary conditions to render the scheme feasible in the upcoming Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) laser facility.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2012

Frontiers of atomic high-harmonic generation

In the past two decades high-harmonic generation (HHG) has become a key process in ultra-fast science due to the extremely short time-structure of the underlying electron dynamics being imprinted in the emitted harmonic light bursts. After discussing the fundamental physical picture of HHG including continuum--continuum transitions, we describe the experimental progress rendering HHG to the unique source of attosecond pulses. The development of bright photon sources with zeptosecond pulse duration and keV photon energy is underway. In this article we describe several approaches pointed toward this aim and beyond. As the main barriers for multi-keV HHG, phase-matching and relativistic drift are discussed. Routes to overcome these problems are pointed out as well as schemes to control the HHG process via alterations of the driving fields. Finally, we report on how the investigation of fundamental physical processes benefits from the continuous development of HHG sources.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2011

Enhanced lifetime of positronium atoms via collective radiative effects

A method is proposed to manipulate the annihilation dynamics of a dense gas of positronium atoms employing superradiance and subradiance regimes of the cooperative spontaneous emission of the system. The annihilation dynamics is controlled by the gas density and by the intensity of the driving strong resonant laser field. In particular, the method allows to increase the annihilation lifetime of an ensemble of positronium atoms more than hundred times by trapping the atoms in the excited state via collective radiative effects in the resonant laser and cavity fields.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Electron correlation and interference effects in strong-field processes

Several correlation and interference effects in strong-field physics are investigated. We show that the interference of continuum wave packets can be the dominant mechanism of high-harmonic generation (HHG) in the over-the-barrier regime. Next, we combine HHG with resonant x-ray excitation to force the recolliding continuum electron to recombine with a core hole rather than the valence hole from that it was previously tunnel ionized. The scheme opens up perspectives for nonlinear xuv physics, attosecond x-ray pulses, and spectroscopy of core orbitals. Then, a method is proposed to generate attochirp-free harmonic pulses by engineering the appropriate electron wave packet. Finally, resonant photoionization mechanisms involving two atoms are discussed which can dominate over the direct single-atom ionization channel at interatomic distances in the nanometer range.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2011

Dense monoenergetic proton beams from chirped laser-plasma interaction

Interaction of a frequency-chirped laser pulse with single protons and a hydrogen plasma cell is studied analytically and by means of particle-in-cell simulations, respectively. Feasibility of generating ultra-intense (10^7 particles per bunch) and phase-space collimated beams of protons (energy spread of about 1 %) is demonstrated. Phase synchronization of the protons and the laser field, guaranteed by the appropriate chirping of the laser pulse, allows the particles to gain sufficient kinetic energy (around 250 MeV) required for such applications as hadron cancer therapy, from state-of-the-art laser systems of intensities of the order of 10^21 W/cm^2.

physics.plasm-ph↗