Theory of Radiative Electron Polarization in Strong Laser Fields

Understand

Radiative polarization of electrons and positrons through the Sokolov-Ternov effect is important for applications in high-energy physics.

• Radiative spin-polarization is a manifestation of quantum radiation reaction affecting the spin-dynamics of electrons.
• We recently proposed that an analogue of the Sokolov-Ternov effect could occur in the strong electromagnetic fields of ultra-high-intensity lasers, which would result in a build-up of spin-polarization in femtoseconds.
• In this paper we develop a density matrix formalism for describing beam polarization in strong electromagnetic fields.