Effect of radiation-reaction on charged particle dynamics in a focused electromagnetic wave

Abstract

The effect of radiation-reaction force on the dynamics of a charged particle in an intense focused light wave is investigated using the physically appealing Hartemann-Luhmann equation of motion. It is found that, irrespective of the choice of initial conditions, radiation reaction force causes the charged particle to cross the focal region, provided the particle is driven into regions where the radiation reaction force dominates over the Lorentz force, thus enhancing the forward energy gained by the particle from the intense light wave. This result is in sharp contrast to the well known result, derived in the absence of radiation reaction forces, where for certain initial conditions the particle reflects from the high intensity region of the focused light wave, thereby losing forward energy. From the perspective of energy gain, our studies clearly show that the parameter space for forward energy gain which is reduced by ponderomotive effects is compensated by radiation reaction effects. These results, which are of relevance to the present day direct laser acceleration schemes of charged particle, also agrees with that obtained using the well known Landau-Lifshitz equation of motion.