Compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beams

Relativistic spin-polarized electron beams are important for fundamental research and the industry, but their generation currently requires conventional accelerators or ultrastrong laser facilities, limiting their accessibility and broad applications. Here, we put forward a method for constructing a...

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Main Authors: Kun Xue, Yue Cao, Feng Wan, Zhong-Peng Li, Qian Zhao, Si-Man Liu, Xin-Yu Liu, Li-Xiang Hu, Yong-Tao Zhao, Zhong-Feng Xu, Yousef I. Salamin, Tong-Pu Yu, Jian-Xing Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-05-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023201
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author Kun Xue
Yue Cao
Feng Wan
Zhong-Peng Li
Qian Zhao
Si-Man Liu
Xin-Yu Liu
Li-Xiang Hu
Yong-Tao Zhao
Zhong-Feng Xu
Yousef I. Salamin
Tong-Pu Yu
Jian-Xing Li
author_facet Kun Xue
Yue Cao
Feng Wan
Zhong-Peng Li
Qian Zhao
Si-Man Liu
Xin-Yu Liu
Li-Xiang Hu
Yong-Tao Zhao
Zhong-Feng Xu
Yousef I. Salamin
Tong-Pu Yu
Jian-Xing Li
author_sort Kun Xue
collection DOAJ
description Relativistic spin-polarized electron beams are important for fundamental research and the industry, but their generation currently requires conventional accelerators or ultrastrong laser facilities, limiting their accessibility and broad applications. Here, we put forward a method for constructing a compact efficient “polarizer” that achieves direct ultrafast conversion of relativistic dense electron beams into polarized ones, based on a beam “self-polarization” mechanism via beam-target interactions. In this scheme, as the electron beam grazes through the polarizer (a double-layer solid target), it ionizes the target and excites an asymmetric plasma field due to the plasma backflows. This field then reacts on the beam itself, triggering spontaneous radiative polarization and reflecting approximately 10% of the beam, and thereby yielding a dense polarized electron beam. Moreover, the double-layer target setup enhances the plasma field and induces a plasma bubble that focuses the polarized beam and reshapes its polarization distribution. Our method is robust with respect to the beam and target parameters, and opens an avenue for relativistic beam polarization with compact accessible devices, which would facilitate their broad applications and the development of related polarized beam experiments.
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publisher American Physical Society
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spelling doaj-art-abe3acadf5d842dd9a8d2dc9c0b322072025-08-20T03:12:46ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-05-017202320110.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023201Compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beamsKun XueYue CaoFeng WanZhong-Peng LiQian ZhaoSi-Man LiuXin-Yu LiuLi-Xiang HuYong-Tao ZhaoZhong-Feng XuYousef I. SalaminTong-Pu YuJian-Xing LiRelativistic spin-polarized electron beams are important for fundamental research and the industry, but their generation currently requires conventional accelerators or ultrastrong laser facilities, limiting their accessibility and broad applications. Here, we put forward a method for constructing a compact efficient “polarizer” that achieves direct ultrafast conversion of relativistic dense electron beams into polarized ones, based on a beam “self-polarization” mechanism via beam-target interactions. In this scheme, as the electron beam grazes through the polarizer (a double-layer solid target), it ionizes the target and excites an asymmetric plasma field due to the plasma backflows. This field then reacts on the beam itself, triggering spontaneous radiative polarization and reflecting approximately 10% of the beam, and thereby yielding a dense polarized electron beam. Moreover, the double-layer target setup enhances the plasma field and induces a plasma bubble that focuses the polarized beam and reshapes its polarization distribution. Our method is robust with respect to the beam and target parameters, and opens an avenue for relativistic beam polarization with compact accessible devices, which would facilitate their broad applications and the development of related polarized beam experiments.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023201
spellingShingle Kun Xue
Yue Cao
Feng Wan
Zhong-Peng Li
Qian Zhao
Si-Man Liu
Xin-Yu Liu
Li-Xiang Hu
Yong-Tao Zhao
Zhong-Feng Xu
Yousef I. Salamin
Tong-Pu Yu
Jian-Xing Li
Compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beams
Physical Review Research
title Compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beams
title_full Compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beams
title_fullStr Compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beams
title_full_unstemmed Compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beams
title_short Compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beams
title_sort compact efficient polarizers for relativistic electron beams
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023201
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