Quantum recoil in free-electron interactions with atomic lattices

Abstract

S4 Full measured spectra, background subtraction and peak deconvolution procedure . .

Multicolor x-rays from free electron–driven van der Waals heterostructures

“…We thus expect our envisioned technology to be highly complementary to large-scale facilities in this regard. (iii) Multicolor quantum recoil: Recent experiments from our group ( 18 ) have revealed that the phenomenon of quantum recoil—theoretically predicted by Physics Nobel Laureate Vitaly Ginzburg in 1940—can be experimentally observed by measuring x-rays generated from free electron–driven single-layer vdW structures. Our current work opens up the possibility of demonstrating quantum recoil from successive photon emission events, where the classically predicted photon energies could also be different because of the emission taking place in materials with different interlayer spacings.…”

“…This dichotomy has motivated interest in developing complementary sources that can straddle the middle ground by providing a solution for versatile x-ray generation on a table-top scale for applications where the ultrahigh brightness of large facilities is not needed. The unique properties of van der Waals (vdW) materials—including their high in-plane thermal conductivity ( 5 ) and strong plasmonic confinement ( 6 )—have fueled much interest in them as prospective platforms for compact, versatile free electron–driven x-ray sources ( 7 – 18 ). Recently, Shi et al.…”

Jaynes-Cummings interaction between low-energy free electrons and cavity photons

“…Very recently, it was also predicted that sub-kilo-electron volt electrons driven by a semiclassical laser field in a periodic dielectric structure will demonstrate energydomain self-trapping (51). In addition, slow electrons were recently shown to give rise to quantum corrections to SP radiation (39,40) and plasmon emission (52)(53)(54), enhanced coupling to plasmonic nanoparticles (55), and complete excitation of nanoscale two-level systems (56). However, the fully quantum interaction considered here, between slow free electrons and photonic microcavities [of particular relevance for integrated quantum photonic technologies (57)] remained, until now, unexplored.…”

Cathodoluminescence Nanoscopy: State of the Art and Beyond

“…Moreover, free electrons can reach energies significantly higher than those of bound electrons, allowing for transitions at much higher frequencies, which consequently enables ultraviolet and X-ray sources with nanoscale control. Several strategies have been proposed for tunable free-electron X-ray generation, including through two-quantum processes involving the simultaneous emission of a photon and a polariton or by periodic interactions of free electrons propagating through an atomic structure in stacked van der Waals materials. − Though, due to the difficulties in compact electron sources, the applications of free-electron radiation sources remain challenging so far. We envisage further explorations in the future from both a fundamental and practical point of view.…”