Experimental evidence of quantum radiation reaction in aligned crystals

TY - JOUR

T1 - Experimental evidence of quantum radiation reaction in aligned crystals

AU - Wistisen, Tobias N.

AU - Di Piazza, Antonino

AU - Knudsen, Helge V.

AU - Uggerhoj, Ulrik I.

PY - 2018/12/1

Y1 - 2018/12/1

N2 - Quantum radiation reaction is the influence of multiple photon emissions from a charged particle on the particle's dynamics, characterized by a significant energy-momentum loss per emission. Here we report experimental radiation emission spectra from ultrarelativistic positrons in silicon in a regime where quantum radiation reaction effects dominate the positron's dynamics. Our analysis shows that while the widely used quantum approach is overall the best model, it does not completely describe all the data in this regime. Thus, these experimental findings may prompt seeking more generally valid methods to describe quantum radiation reaction. This experiment is a fundamental test of quantum electrodynamics in a regime where the dynamics of charged particles is strongly influenced not only by the external electromagnetic fields but also by the radiation field generated by the charges themselves and where each photon emission may significantly reduce the energy of the charge.

AB - Quantum radiation reaction is the influence of multiple photon emissions from a charged particle on the particle's dynamics, characterized by a significant energy-momentum loss per emission. Here we report experimental radiation emission spectra from ultrarelativistic positrons in silicon in a regime where quantum radiation reaction effects dominate the positron's dynamics. Our analysis shows that while the widely used quantum approach is overall the best model, it does not completely describe all the data in this regime. Thus, these experimental findings may prompt seeking more generally valid methods to describe quantum radiation reaction. This experiment is a fundamental test of quantum electrodynamics in a regime where the dynamics of charged particles is strongly influenced not only by the external electromagnetic fields but also by the radiation field generated by the charges themselves and where each photon emission may significantly reduce the energy of the charge.

KW - ELECTRONS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042530619&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-018-03165-4

DO - 10.1038/s41467-018-03165-4

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29476095

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 9

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

IS - 1

M1 - 795

ER -