Quantum radiation reaction: from interference to incoherence

Understand

We investigate quantum radiation reaction in laser-electron interactions across different energy and intensity regimes.

• Using a fully quantum approach which also accounts exactly for the effect of the strong laser pulse on the electron motion, we identify in particular a regime in which radiation reaction is dominated by quantum interference.
• We find signatures of quantum radiation reaction in the electron spectra which have no classical analogue and which cannot be captured by the incoherent approximations typically used in the high-intensity regime.
• These signatures are measurable with presently available laser and accelerator technology.