Ultrarelativistic Charged Particles Research Articles

Charged Particles Orbiting Charged Black-Bounce Black Holes

The detailed and comprehensive analysis of radiation processes in accretion disks consisting of electrically charged particles around black holes may provide powerful information about the spacetime geometry of the central black hole. We investigate the circular orbits of electrically charged particles around an electrically charged black-bounce Reissner–Nordström (RN) black hole, known as an RN Simpson–Visser (SV) black hole. We also study the profiles of the innermost stable circular orbits (ISCOs), energy, and angular momentum of the particles in their ISCOs, as well as the efficiency of energy release processes in the accretion disk in the Novikov–Thorne model. Finally, we calculate and study the effects of the black-bounce parameter as well as the black-hole charge on the intensity of the radiation of ultrarelativistic charged particles orbiting the charged RN SV black hole along circular orbits and falling into the black hole. It is observed that the black-bounce parameter essentially decreases the ISCO radius, and consequently the energy extraction and intensity of electromagnetic radiation.

Dynamics of ultrarelativistic charged particles with strong radiation reaction. II. Entry into Aristotelian equilibrium

Dynamics of ultrarelativistic charged particles with strong radiation reaction. II. Entry into Aristotelian equilibrium

Dynamics of ultrarelativistic charged particles with strong radiation reaction. I. Aristotelian equilibrium state

Dynamics of ultrarelativistic charged particles with strong radiation reaction. I. Aristotelian equilibrium state

Charged particle beam transport in a flying focus pulse with orbital angular momentum.

We demonstrate the capability of flying focus (FF) laser pulses with ℓ=1 orbital angular momentum (OAM) to transversely confine ultrarelativistic charged particle bunches over macroscopic distances while maintaining a tight bunch radius. A FF pulse with ℓ=1 OAM creates a radial ponderomotive barrier that constrains the transverse motion of particles and travels with the bunch over extended distances. As compared with freely propagating bunches, which quickly diverge due to their initial momentum spread, the particles cotraveling with the ponderomotive barrier slowly oscillate around the laser pulse axis within the spot size of the pulse. This can be achieved at FF pulse energies that are orders of magnitude lower than required by Gaussian or Bessel pulses with OAM. The ponderomotive trapping is further enhanced by radiative cooling of the bunch resulting from rapid oscillations of the charged particles in the laser field. This cooling decreases the mean-square radius and emittance of the bunch during propagation.

Extremely brilliant crystal-based light sources

Brilliance of novel gamma-ray Crystal-based Light Sources (CLS) that can be constructed through exposure of oriented crystals to beams of ultra-relativistic charged particles is calculated basing on the atomistic scale numerical modeling of the channeling process. In an exemplary case study, the brilliance of radiation emitted in a diamond-based Crystalline Undulator LS by a 10 GeV positron beam available at present at the SLAC facility is computed. Intesity of CU radiation in the photon energy range 10^0 - 10^1 MeV, which is inaccessible to conventional synchrotrons, undulators and XFELs, greatly exceeds that of laser-Compton scattering LSs and can be higher than predicted in the Gamma Factory proposal to CERN. Construction of novel CLSs is a challenging task which constitutes a highly interdisciplinary field entangling a broad range of correlated activities. CLSs provide a low-cost altenative to conventional LSs and have enomorous number of applications.

Evolution of equilibrium particle beams in plasma under external wakefields

A beam of ultrarelativistic charged particles in a plasma can reach equilibrium with its own radial wakefield and then propagate with little change in shape. If some co-moving perturbation appears ahead of the beam, it may or may not destroy the beam with its wakefield, depending on the phase and amplitude of the wakefield. We numerically study which perturbations can destroy a single short bunch or a train of many short bunches at the parameters of interest for plasma wakefield acceleration in an axisymmetric configuration, and how fast. We find that there are particularly dangerous wakefield phases in which the beam can be destroyed by perturbations of very low amplitude. We also find that perturbations with an amplitude larger than the wakefield of a single bunch in the train are always destructive.

All-atom relativistic molecular dynamics simulations of channeling and radiation processes in oriented crystals

We review achievements made in recent years in the field of numerical modeling of ultra-relativistic projectiles propagation in oriented crystals, radiation emission and related phenomena. This topic is highly relevant to the problem of designing novel gamma-ray light sources based on the exposure of oriented crystals to the beams of ultra-relativistic charged particles .The paper focuses on the approaches that allow for advanced computation exploration beyond the continuous potential and the binary collision frameworks. A comprehensive description of the multiscale all-atom relativistic molecular dynamics approach implemented in the MBN Explorer package is given. Several case studies related to modeling of ultra-relativistic projectiles (electrons, positron and pions) channeling and photon emission in oriented straight, bent and periodically bent crystals are presented. In most cases, the input data used in the simulations, such as crystal orientation and thickness, the bending radii, periods and amplitudes, as well as the energies of the projectiles, have been chosen to match the parameters used in the accomplished and the ongoing experiments. Wherever available the results of calculations are compared with the experimental data and/or the data obtained by other numerical means.

Diffractive shadowing of coherent polarization radiation

We report on the study of shadowing of electromagnetic fields radiated in the Terahertz (THz) region from two consecutive sources of coherent diffraction and transition radiation. In these conditions, the formation length is predicted to be ≲100 m, and shadowing effects should result in an almost complete suppression of radiated fields within distances of the order of tens of centimeters. We experimentally measured that shadowing effects disappear for distances significantly shorter than those predicted. We propose a new model that explains our experimental observations by taking into account 3D diffraction effects. These findings will have a positive impact on the beneficial use of consecutive radiators both for the generation of intense electromagnetic radiation and for beam diagnostics using coherent polarization radiation from ultra-relativistic charged particles.

Crystal-based intensive gamma-ray light sources

We discuss design and practical realization of novel gamma-ray Crystal-based Light Sources (CLS) that can be constructed through exposure of oriented crystals (linear, bent, periodically bent) to beams of ultrarelativistic charged particles. In an exemplary case study, we estimate brilliance of radiation emitted in a Crystalline Undulator (CU) LS by available positron beams. Intensity of CU radiation in the photon energy range $10^0-10^1$ MeV, which is inaccessible to conventional synchrotrons, undulators and XFELs, greatly exceeds that of laser-Compton scattering LSs and can be higher than predicted in the Gamma Factory proposal to CERN. Brilliance of CU-LSs can be boosted by up to 8 orders of magnitude through the process of superradiance by a pre-bunched beam. Construction of novel CLSs is a challenging task which constitutes a highly interdisciplinary field entangling a broad range of correlated activities. CLSs provide a low-cost alternative to conventional LSs and have enormous number of applications.

Cherenkov radiation in a strong magnetic field

According to quantum electrodynamics, in a strong magnetic field that is constant and spatially uniform, the vacuum becomes polarized with a refractive index greater than unity. As a result, ultra-relativistic charged particles travelling in such media can emit Cherenkov radiation with a power spectrum directly proportional to the photon frequency ω. Therefore, by extrapolating ω beyond the critical synchrotron frequency ωc, the Cherenkov radiation will eventually dominate over its synchrotron counterpart. However, such an extrapolation is not possible. We show that in the framework of effective field theory, the maximal attainable photon frequency ωmax is about four order of magnitude less than ωc. At ω=ωmax, given the γe-factor of an electron travelling normal to a constant and spatially uniform magnetic field B, the spectrum of Cherenkov radiation becomes dominant when γe(|B|/Gauss)≳4.32×1019. Nevertheless, detecting the Cherenkov radiation in astrophysical environments remains challenging since its spectral flux density is about three orders of magnitude less than the synchrotron radiation.

Quasiclassical approach to synergic synchrotron–Cherenkov radiation in polarized vacuum

Photon emission by an ultrarelativistic charged particle in extremely strong magnetic field is analyzed, with vacuum polarization and photon recoil taken into account. Vacuum polarization is treated phenomenologically via refractive index. The photon emission occurs in the synergic (cooperative) synchrotron–Cherenkov process [J Schwinger et al 1976 Annals of Physics 96 303] which is similar to the synchrotron emission rather than to the Cherenkov one. For electrons, the effect of vacuum polarization on the emission spectrum is not evident at least below the probable onset of non-perturbative quantum electrodynamics (QED). However, the effect of vacuum polarization on the emission spectrum can be observable for muons already at γB/BS ≈ 30, with γ the muon Lorentz factor, B the magnetic field strength and BS the critical QED field. Nevertheless, vacuum polarization leads to only 10% enhancement of the maximum of the radiation spectrum.

Study of lateral density distributions of Cherenkov photons in extensive air showers at primary energy 50 GeV and above

An EAS (extensive air shower) refers to the cascade of secondary particles created from the interactions of high energy primary cosmic ray particles with the air nuclei and subsequent decay of the particles produced. Ultra-relativistic secondary charged particles in the atmosphere produce Cherenkov radiation, which may be detected by ground based detector array. Such an array, HAGAR (High Altitude GAmma Ray) experiment is operating at Hanle, Ladakh, at an energy threshold of about 100 GeV, which will be lowered to 50 GeV using MACE telescope. We have studied the simulations of the distribution patterns of lateral density of Cherenkov photons generated in EAS for different primary particles (γ, p) incident with the fixed primary energy 50 GeV and these are compared with those of 100 GeV showers using the standard CORSIKA code. From our study it has been found that, for all primary particles, the variation of lateral density distribution of Cherenkov photons almost obey the functional relation, ρch (r) = ρ0 e(−βr). The steepness of the lateral distribution function is found to depend on the primary mass composition. Further a prominent hump is observed in the lateral distribution for gamma shower only.

A multi-wirescanner test setup utilizing characteristic X-rays for charged particle and photon beam diagnostics

A multi-wirescanner for diagnostics of ionizing particle beams (e.g. both non-relativistic and ultra-relativistic charged particles; X-ray and gamma photons) is proposed and discussed in the paper. The scanner is based on measurement of yield of characteristic X-rays generated during the particle interaction with the wires made of different materials. The proposed scanner is developed and tested on the beam of electrons with energy of 40 keV . The quasimonochromatic characteristic X-rays and continuous background are clearly identified. The results of measurements of the transverse size, emittance, position and direction of beam propagation are presented and discussed.

The First- and Second-Order Fermi Acceleration Processes in BL Lacertae Objects

BL Lacertae objects constitute a rare class of active galactic nuclei with extreme observational features attributed to the Doppler-boosted emission from a relativistic jet, closely aligned to our line-of-sight. Their spectral energy distribution, extending over 17–19 orders of frequency from radio to the TeV energy range, is of non-thermal origin and shows a typical two-component structure. The lower-energy component, ranging from the radio to X-rays in the high-energy peaked BL Lacertae sources, is widely accepted to be a synchrotron radiation emitted by ultra-relativistic charged particles, to be initially accelerated via the Blandford–Znajek mechanism or magneto-hydrodynamic processes in the vicinity of the central super-massive black hole. However, the accelerated particles should lose the energy, sufficient for the emission of the keV-GeV photons, very quickly and the source can maintain its flaring state on the daily-weekly timescales only if some additional acceleration mechanisms are continuously at work. According to different studies and simulations,the particles can gain tremendous energies due to the propagation of relativistic shocks through the jet: By means of first-order Fermi mechanism at the shock front, or they undergo an efficient stochastic (second-order Fermi) acceleration close to the shock front, in the turbulent jet medium. Our intensive X-ray spectral study of TeV-detected, bright BL Lacertae objects (Mrk 421, 1ES 1959+650, Mrk 501) often show the signatures of the stochastic acceleration, while those related to the first-order Fermi process arefound relatively rarely. The TeV-undetected sources (1H 1516+660, BZB J1341+3959, BZB J1237+6258) mostly do not show the signatures of the efficient stochastic acceleration in their jets.

Electromagnetic fields from quantum sources in heavy-ion collisions

We compute the electromagnetic field created by an ultrarelativistic charged particle in vacuum at distances comparable to the particle Compton wavelength. The wave function of the particle is governed by the Klein-Gordon equation, for a scalar particle, or the Dirac equation, for a spin-half particle. The produced electromagnetic field is essentially different in magnitude and direction from the Coulomb field, induced by a classical point charge, due to the quantum diffusion effect. Thus, a realistic computation of the electromagnetic field produced in heavy-ion collisions must be based upon the full quantum treatment of the valence quarks.

Strained layer crystalline undulator

Ultrarelativistic charged particles are predicted to emit hard electromagnetic radiation of undulator type while being channeled in a crystal with periodically bent crystallographic planes. The recently proposed crystalline undulator with the bending amplitude smaller than the distance between the bent planes and the bending period shorter than the period of channeling oscillations is far superior to what was proposed previously. In the same time, it is more challenging from the technical point of view because its bending period has to be in the sub-micron range. It is shown that a mixed crystal of silicon-germanium with properly varying germanium fraction can have the necessary bending parameters. Moreover, it is predicted to be stable against misfit dislocations.

Properties of an ultrarelativistic charged particle radiation in a constant homogeneous crossed electromagnetic field

The properties of radiation created by a classical ultrarelativistic scalar charged particle in a constant homogeneous crossed electromagnetic field are described both analytically and numerically with radiation reaction taken into account in the form of the Landau–Lifshitz equation. The total radiation naturally falls into two parts: the radiation formed at the entrance point of a particle into the crossed field (the synchrotron entrance radiation), and the radiation coming from the late-time asymptotics of a particle motion (the de-excited radiation). The synchrotron entrance radiation resembles, although does not coincide with, the ultrarelativistic limit of the synchrotron radiation: its distribution over energies and angles possesses almost the same properties. The de-excited radiation is soft, not concentrated in the plane of motion of a charged particle, and almost completely circularly polarized. The photon energy delivering the maximum to its spectral angular distribution decreases with increasing the initial energy of a charged particle, while the maximum value of this distribution remains the same at the fixed photon observation angle and entrance angle of a charged particle. The ultraviolet and infrared asymptotics of the total radiation are also described.

Plasma wakefield acceleration studies using the quasi-static code WAKE

The quasi-static code WAKE [P. Mora and T. Antonsen, Phys. Plasmas 4, 217 (1997)] is upgraded to model the propagation of an ultra-relativistic charged particle beam through a warm background plasma in plasma wakefield acceleration. The upgraded code is benchmarked against the full particle-in-cell code OSIRIS [Hemker et al., Phys. Rev. Spec. Top. Accel. Beams 3, 061301 (2000)] and the quasi-static code QuickPIC [Huang et al., J. Comput. Phys. 217, 658 (2006)]. The effect of non-zero plasma temperature on the peak accelerating electric field is studied for a two bunch electron beam driver with parameters corresponding to the plasma wakefield acceleration experiments at Facilities for Accelerator Science and Experimental Test Beams. It is shown that plasma temperature does not affect the energy gain and spread of the accelerated particles despite suppressing the peak accelerating electric field. The role of plasma temperature in improving the numerical convergence of the electric field with the grid resolution is discussed.

X-Ray Cherenkov Radiation as a Source for Transverse Size Diagnostics of Ultra-relativistic Electron Beams

Development of advanced non-invasive methods for charged particle beam diagnostics is crucial in modern and future accelerators. Therefore, it is essential to develop non-invasive methods to generate EM radiation which properties depend on the beam parameters. In this paper we propose to use X-ray Cherenkov radiation (XCR) which can be generated by ultrarelativistic charged particles in the vicinity of the absorption edges of several materials. Due to a resonant nature of the refractive index near the absorption edges the generated radiation is quasi-monochromatic. On the other hand its properties depend on the parameters of the incident particle beam. In this paper we represent an approach for calculating the XCR generated along with transition radiation and diffraction radiation. The effect of the transverse electron beam size on the XCR characteristics is discussed.

Radiation from aD-dimensional collision of shock waves: Higher-order setup and perturbation theory validity

The collision of two D-dimensional, ultra-relativistic particles, described in General Relativity as Aichelberg-Sexl shock waves, is inelastic. In first order perturbation theory, the fraction of the initial centre of mass energy radiated away was recently shown to be 1/2 - 1/D. Here, we extend the formalism to higher orders in perturbation theory, and derive a general expression to extract the inelasticity, valid non-perturbatively, based on the Bondi mass loss formula. Then, to clarify why perturbation theory captures relevant physics of a strong field process in this problem, we provide one variation of the problem where the perturbative framework breaks down: the collision of ultra-relativistic charged particles. The addition of charge, and the associated repulsive nature of the source, originates an extra radiation burst, which we argue to be an artifact of the perturbative framework, veiling the relevant physics.