Particle scattering by two colliding laser pulses¹

Ulrich H. Gerlach

Abstract:

Consider the motion of charges before and after the arrival of (i) a single or (ii) a pair of short (or long) laser pulses traveling into opposite directions. A mathematical analysis combined with computer simulation reveals the effect of these pulses on the motion of a gas of such charged particles. Measurements of their velocities constitutes a novel and very sensitive indicator of collisions between the pair of optical pulses.

Footnotes

... pulses¹

Based on a physics ``FEMTO meeting'' talk ``Optical alignment: particle dynamics in the presence of two colliding laser pulses'' given 12/1/2005