arXiv subjects

Kenan Qu

Publications and source records attributed to Kenan Qu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Nonlinear Compton scattering in a quantized pump field

We develop a fully quantized theory of nonlinear Compton scattering driven by a single-mode quantum field. Exact quantum-Volkov states retain pump depletion, back-action, and final-state correlations through displaced or squeezed-displaced Fock-state ladders. A finite Fock-state pump produces discrete photon-transfer edges and a terminal spectral cutoff. In the bright, weakly depleted regime, the exact theory reduces to a Wigner-function weighted-average of scattering probabilities evaluated at fixed complex field amplitudes, with ordinary and generalized Bessel functions describing the harmonic structure for circular and linear polarization, respectively. For squeezed coherent light, the squeezing angle controls the high-energy emission through photon-number fluctuations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Single-Shot Intensity-Correlation Diffractive X-ray Imaging of ICF Plasmas

X-ray radiography of inertial confinement fusion plasmas is currently limited to several-micron resolution by geometric blur, diffraction, and photon-throughput tradeoffs. We propose single-shot intensity-correlation diffractive imaging (IDI) as a lensless route to submicron plasma turbulence measurements under low-self-emission conditions. Rather than relying on physical apertures, IDI reconstructs plasma morphology by Fourier transforming the spatial correlations of chaotic far-field speckles via the Hanbury Brown-Twiss effect. The Fourier phase is retrieved by applying bispectral closure-phase constraints derived from third-order intensity correlations. We demonstrate this submicron capability in a numerical simulation using a $50~\mathrm{keV}$ x-ray probe scattered by a spiral plasma structure.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2026

Nonlinear Compton scattering in a frequency-modulated field

When an electron is accelerated, it emits radiation. In the relativistic quantum realm the elementary radiation process is the emission of a single photon, a process known as nonlinear Compton scattering in the case of an electron moving in the presence of a strong electromagnetic wave. This process is typically described within the Furry picture, where the electromagnetic wave is described as a classical background field and the electron-positron field is quantized in the presence of that background field. Equivalently one can quantize the electron-positron field in the vacuum but then the photon emission process is described as a transition from an initial state to a final state both featuring, apart from the electron (the initial state) and the electron and the photon (the final state), the same coherent state of photons appropriately related to the electromagnetic wave. Here, we consider a more general situation where the initial and the final state feature the same squeezed coherent state. Then, we specialize to the case where the coherent state corresponds to a plane-wave field and the mostly populated modes of the coherent state are also squeezed. We show that, when quantum fluctuations induced by the squeezing in the coherent field are negligible, a condition well satisfied at available squeezing levels, the squeezing effects effectively reduce to a frequency modulation of the plane-wave field corresponding to the coherent state. By means of numerical examples we show that at already available squeezing levels the emission spectrum of nonlinear Compton scattering and the total photon yield can be altered significantly. Analytical explanations of the main numerical results are also provided.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Detecting Solenoidal Plasma Turbulence via Laser Polarization Rotation

Recent theoretical studies suggest that solenoidal turbulence can significantly enhance fusion reactivity, yet no standard diagnostic exists to directly measure these solenoidal flows in high-energy-density plasmas, nor to distinguish between solenoidal and compressional turbulence. We propose a method that directly diagnoses the energy and spatial structure of this rotational turbulence using the cross-polarization scattering of a probe laser. By coupling to the plasma vorticity, the scattering generates a cross-polarized signal proportional to the turbulent vorticity, effectively acting as a calorimeter for shear flows. We identify a diffractive scattering signature analogous to ``Debye-Scherrer ring'' that reveals the eddy size distribution. We show that this technique is applicable to National Ignition Facility (NIF) implosion conditions and other high-energy-density scenarios.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2025

Ultra-strong Quantum Squeezing Mediated by Plasma Waves

Quantum squeezed states enable precision measurements beyond the standard quantum limit, but conventional solid-state media fundamentally limit pump intensities to the ionization threshold. We demonstrate that plasma waves can mediate ultra-strong two-mode squeezing through stimulated Raman scattering, achieving up to ultrastrong squeezing using $10^{16}{Wcm^{-2}}$ pump lasers. Employing two copropagating pump beams with frequency difference matching twice the plasma frequency, we generate quantum-correlated photon pairs through phonon-mediated four-wave mixing. The process exhibits remarkable thermal noise tolerance, allowing strong squeezing even with large thermal phonon numbers. This plasma-based approach produces squeezed states with ultrahigh photon numbers, opening new possibilities for strong-field applications across optical to X-ray wavelengths.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Producing entangled photon pairs and quantum squeezed states in plasmas

Plasma is capable of mediating the conversion of two pump photons into two different photons through a relativistic four-wave mixing nonlinearity. Spontaneously created photon pairs are emitted at symmetric angles with respect to the colinear pump direction, and the emission rate is largest if they have identical frequency. Thus, two orthogonally polarized pumps can produce polarization-entangled photon pairs through a mm-long homogeneous plasma. The noise from Raman scattering can be avoided if the pump detuning differs from twice the plasma frequency. On the other hand, pump detuning exactly equal to twice the plasma frequency can significantly enhance the interaction rate, which allows for the production of strong two-mode squeezed states. Remarkably, the amplified noise from Raman scattering are correlated and hence can be suppressed in one of the output quadratures, thereby maintaining the squeezing magnitude.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Creating pair plasmas with observable collective effects

Although existing technology cannot yet directly produce fields at the Schwinger level, experimental facilities can already explore strong-field QED phenomena by taking advantage of the Lorentz boost of energetic electron beams. Recent studies show that QED cascades can create electron-positron pairs at sufficiently high density to exhibit collective plasma effects. Signatures of the collective pair plasma effects can appear in exquisite detail through plasma-induced frequency upshifts and chirps in the laser spectrum. Maximizing the magnitude of the QED plasma signature demands high pair density and low pair energy, which suits the configuration of colliding an over $10^{18}{Jm^{-3}}$ energy-density electron beam with a $10^{22}\mathrm{-}10^{23}{Wcm^{-2}}$ intensity laser pulse. The collision creates pairs that have a large plasma frequency, made even larger as they slow down or reverse direction due to both the radiation reaction and laser pressure. This paper explains at a tutorial level the key properties of the QED cascades and laser frequency upshift, and at the same time finds the minimum parameters that can be used to produce observable QED plasma.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

On parallel laser beam merger in plasmas

Self-focusing instability is a well-known phenomenon of nonlinear optics, which is of great importance in the field of laser-plasma interactions. Self-focusing instability leads to beam focusing and, consequently, breakup into multiple laser filaments. The majority of applications tend to avoid the laser filamentation regime due to its detrimental role on laser spot profile and peak intensity. In our work, using nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation solver and particle-in-cell simulations, we address the problem of interaction of multiple parallel beams in plasmas. We consider both non-relativistic and moderately relativistic regimes, and demonstrate how the physics of parallel beam interaction transitions from the familiar self- and mutual-focusing instabilities in the non-relativistic regime to moderately relativistic regime, where an analytical description of filament interaction is impenetrable.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Simulations of Non-Integer Upconversion in Resonant Six-Wave Scattering

Resonant upconversion through a sixth order relativistic nonlinearity resulting in a unique resonance was recently proposed [V. M. Malkin and N. J. Fisch, Physical Review E 108, 045208 (2023)]. The high order resonance is a unique non-integer multiple of a driving pump frequency resulting in a frequency upshift by a factor of $\approx 3.73$. We demonstrate the presence, unique requirements, and growth of this mode numerically. Through tuning waves to high amplitude, in a mildly underdense plasma, the six-photon process may grow more than other non-resonant, but lower order processes. The growth of the high frequency mode remains below the nonlinear growth regime. However, extending current numerical results to more strongly coupled resonances with longer pulse propagation distances suggests a pathway to significant upconversion.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Radiation Reaction Kinetics and Collective QED Signatures

Observing collective effects originating from the interplay between quantum electrodynamics and plasma physics might be achieved in upcoming experiments. In particular, the generation of electron-positron pairs and the observation of their collective dynamics could be simultaneously achieved in a collision between an intense laser and a highly relativistic electron beam through a laser frequency shift driven by an increase in the plasma density increase. In this collision, the radiation of high energy photons will serve a dual purpose: first, in seeding the cascade of pair generation; and, second, in decelerating the created pairs for detection. The deceleration results in a detectable shift in the plasma frequency. This deceleration was previously studied considering only a small sample of individual pair particles. However, the highly stochastic nature of the quantum radiation reaction in the strong field regime limits the descriptive power of the average behavior to the dynamics of pair particles. Here, we examine the full kinetic evolution of generated pairs in order to more accurately model the relativistically adjusted plasma density. As we show, the most effective pair energy for creating observable signatures occurs at a local minimum, obtained at finite laser field strength due to the tradeoff between pair deceleration and the relativistic particle oscillation at increasing laser intensity. For a small number of laser cycles, the quantum radiation reaction may re-arrange the generated pairs into anisotropic distributions in momentum space, although, in the one dimensional simulations considered here, this anisotropy quickly decreases.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Pair filamentation and laser scattering in beam-driven QED cascades

We report the observation of longitudinal filamentation of an electron-positron pair plasma in a beam-driven QED cascade. The filaments are created in the "pair-reflection" regime, where the generated pairs are partially stopped and reflected in the strong laser field. The density filaments form near the center of the laser pulse and have diameters similar to the laser wavelength. They develop and saturate within a few laser cycles and do not induce sizable magnetostatic fields. We rule out the onset of two-stream instability or Weibel instability and attribute the origin of pair filamentation to laser ponderomotive forces. The small plasma filaments induce strong scattering of laser energy to large angles, serving as a signature of collective QED plasma dynamics.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2022

Particle Deceleration for Collective QED Signatures

Frequency upshifts have been proposed as a first experimental signature of collective effects in QED cascade generated electron-positron pair plasmas. Since the high effective masses of generated pairs will reduce any frequency change, stopped pairs at minimal Lorentz factor in the lab frame were thought to be the dominant contribution to the the laser upshift. However, we demonstrate that only considering stopped particles unduly neglects the contributions of particles re-accelerated in the laser propagation direction. Re-accelerated particles should, on a per particle basis, affect the laser more strongly, and over a much longer timescale. To maximize particle contributions to the laser upshift, we consider a Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode to better reflect generated pairs. The LG mode doesn't have an advantage in particle deceleration and re-acceleration when compared against a Gaussian beam, but the LG mode can maintain particle contributions for a longer duration, allowing for more pair density accumulation. Deceleration with a structured beam to keep pairs within the laser should create a larger upshift, thereby lowering the demands on the driving laser.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Collective plasma effects of electron-positron pairs in beam-driven QED cascades

Understanding the interplay of strong-field QED and collective plasma effects is important for explaining extreme astrophysical environments like magnetars. It has been shown that QED pair plasmas is possible to be produced and observed by passing a relativistic electron beam through an intense laser field. This paper presents in detail multiple sets of 3D QED-PIC simulations to show the creation of pair plasmas in the QED cascade. The beam driven method enables a high pair particle density and also a low particle gamma factor, which both play equal rolls on exhibiting large collective plasma effects. Finite laser frequency upshift is observed with both ideal parameters (24 PW laser laser colliding with 300 GeV electron beam) and with existing technologies (3 PW laser laser colliding with 30 GeV electron beam).

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

MP3 White Paper 2021 -- Research Opportunities Enabled by Co-locating Multi-Petawatt Lasers with Dense Ultra-Relativistic Electron Beams

Novel emergent phenomena are expected to occur under conditions exceeding the QED critical electric field, where the vacuum becomes unstable to electron-positron pair production. The required intensity to reach this regime, $\sim10^{29}\,\mathrm{Wcm^{-2}}$, cannot be achieved even with the most intense lasers now being planned/constructed without a sizeable Lorentz boost provided by interactions with ultrarelativistic particles. Seeded laser-laser collisions may access this strong-field QED regime at laser intensities as low as $\sim10^{24}\,\mathrm{Wcm^{-2}}$. Counterpropagating e-beam--laser interactions exceed the QED critical field at still lower intensities ($\sim10^{20}\,\mathrm{Wcm^{-2}}$ at $\sim10\,\mathrm{GeV}$). Novel emergent phenomena are predicted to occur in the "QED plasma regime", where strong-field quantum and collective plasma effects play off one another. Here the electron beam density becomes a decisive factor. Thus, the challenge is not just to exceed the QED critical field, but to do so with high quality, approaching solid-density electron beams. Even though laser wakefield accelerators (LWFA) represent a very promising research field, conventional accelerators still provide orders of magnitude higher charge densities at energies $\gtrsim10\,\mathrm{GeV}$. Co-location of extremely dense and highly energetic electron beams with a multi-petawatt laser system would therefore enable seminal research opportunities in high-field physics and laboratory astrophysics. This white paper elucidates the potential scientific impact of multi-beam capabilities that combine a multi-PW optical laser, high-energy/density electron beam, and high-intensity x rays and outlines how to achieve such capabilities by co-locating a 3-10 PW laser with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Generating optical supercontinuum and frequency comb in tenuous plasmas

There are several mechanisms by which the frequency spectrum of a laser broadens when it propagates at near-relativistic-intensity in tenuous plasma. Focusing on one dimensional effects, we identify two strong optical nonlinearities, namely, four-wave mixing (FWM) and forward Raman scattering (FRS), for creating octave-wide spectra. FWM dominates the interaction when the laser pulse is short and intense; Its combination with phase modulation produces a symmetrically broadened supercontinuum. FRS dominates when the laser pulse is long and relatively weak; It broadens the laser spectrum mainly towards lower frequencies and produces a frequency comb. The creation of the supercontinuum and frequency combs only frequency modulates, but does not compress, the laser pulse.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Modulation-Slippage Tradeoff in Resonant Four-Wave Upconversion

Following up on a proposal to use four-wave mixing in an underdense plasma at mildly relativistic laser intensities to produce vastly more energetic x-ray pulses [V. M. Malkin and N. J. Fisch, Phys. Rev. E, 101, 023211 (2020)], we perform the first numerical simulations in one dimension to demonstrate amplification of a short high frequency seed through four-wave mixing. We find that parasitic processes including phase modulation and spatial pulse slippage limit the amplification efficiency. We numerically explore the previously proposed "dual seed" configuration as a countermeasure against phase modulation. We show how this approach tends to be thwarted by longitudinal slippage. In the examples we considered, the best performance was in fact achieved through optimization of signal and pump parameters in a "single seed" configuration.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Optical phase conjugation in backward Raman amplification

Compression of an intense laser pulse using backward Raman amplification (BRA) in plasma, followed by vacuum focusing to a small spot size, can produce unprecedented ultrarelativistic laser intensities. The plasma density inhomogeneity during BRA, however, causes laser phase and amplitude distortions, limiting the pulse focusability. To solve the issue of distortion, we investigate the use of optical phase conjugation as the seed pulse for BRA. We show that the phase conjugated laser pulses can retain focusability in the nonlinear pump-depletion regime of BRA, but not so easily in the linear amplification regime. This somewhat counter-intuitive result is because the nonlinear pump-depletion regime features a shorter amplification distance, and hence less phase distortion due to wave-wave interaction, than the linear amplification regime.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

On Seminal HEDP Research Opportunities Enabled by Colocating Multi-Petawatt Laser with High-Density Electron Beams

The scientific community is currently witnessing an expensive and worldwide race to achieve the highest possible light intensity. Within the next decade this effort is expected to reach nearly $10^{24}\,\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{cm^2}$ in the lab frame by focusing of 100 PW, near-infrared lasers. A major driving force behind this effort is the possibility to study strong-field vacuum breakdown and an accompanying electron-positron pair plasma via a quantum electrodynamic (QED) cascade [Edwin Cartlidge, "The light fantastic", Science 359, 382 (2018)]. Whereas Europe is focusing on all-optical 10 PW-class laser facilities (e.g., Apollon and ELI), China is already planning on co-locating a 100 PW laser system with a 25 keV superconducting XFEL and thus implicitly also a high-quality electron beam [Station of Extreme Light (SEL) at the Shanghai Superintense-Ultrafast Lasers Facility (SULF)]. This white paper elucidates the seminal scientific opportunities facilitated by colliding dense, multi-GeV electron beams with multi-PW optical laser pulses. Such a multi-beam facility would enable the experimental exploration of extreme HEDP environments by generating electron-positron pair plasmas with unprecedented densities and temperatures, where the interplay between strong-field quantum and collective plasma effects becomes decisive.

physics.plasm-ph↗