Quantum effects in the interaction of low-energy electrons with light.
Sci Adv
; 10(25): eadp4096, 2024 Jun 21.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38905338
ABSTRACT
The interaction between free electrons and optical fields constitutes a unique platform to investigate ultrafast processes in matter and explore fundamental quantum phenomena. Specifically, optically modulated electrons in ultrafast electron microscopy act as noninvasive probes that push space-time-energy resolution to the picometer-attosecond-microelectronvolt range. Electron energies well above the involved photon energies are commonly used, rendering a low electron-light coupling and, thus, only providing limited access to the wealth of quantum nonlinear phenomena underlying the dynamical response of nanostructures. Here, we theoretically investigate electron-light interactions between photons and electrons of comparable energies, revealing quantum and recoil effects that include a nonvanishing coupling of surface-scattered electrons to light plane waves, inelastic electron backscattering from confined optical fields, and strong electron-light coupling under grazing electron diffraction by an illuminated crystal surface. Our exploration of electron-light-matter interactions holds potential for applications in ultrafast electron microscopy.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Sci Adv
/
Sci. Adv
/
Science advances
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
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