Abstract
Relativistic classical and quantum dynamics of twisted (vortex) Dirac particles in arbitrary electric and magnetic fields is constructed. The relativistic Hamiltonian and equations of motion in the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation are derived. Methods for the extraction of an electron vortex beam with a given orbital polarization and for the manipulation of such a beam are developed. The new effect of a radiative orbital polarization of a twisted electron beam in a magnetic field resulting in a nonzero average projection of the intrinsic orbital angular momentum on the field direction is predicted.
Highlights
The discovery of twisted electron beams [1] has shown that particles can carry an intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM)
The dynamics of the intrinsic OAM in external magnetic and electric fields has been previously studied in many works
The correct equation of motion of the intrinsic OAM in an electric field [11] differs from the equation found in [6]
Summary
The discovery of twisted (vortex) electron beams [1] has shown that particles can carry an intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM). Twisted electron beams with large intrinsic OAMs (up to 1000 ) have been recently obtained [2]. The dynamics of the intrinsic OAM in external magnetic and electric fields has been previously studied in many works (see, e.g., [6,7,8,9,10]). In [11, 12], the general description of the relativistic dynamics of an intrinsic OAM in arbitrary electric and magnetic fields in the framework of relativistic quantum mechanics and classical physics has been made.
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