Relativistic electron spin motion in cycloatoms

Abstract

We present computer movies of the classical and quantum mechanical time evolution for an atom in a strong static magnetic field and a laser field. The resonantly induced relativistic motion of the atomic electron leads to a ring-like spatial probability density called a cycloatom. We further demonstrate that spin-orbit coupling for a fast moving electron in a cycloatom becomes significant, modifying the time-dependence of the spin even if initially aligned parallel to the static magnetic field direction. We also present several movies on time-evolution of the spin-distribution as a function of the position for a relativistic quantum state. The nature of such a space resolved spin measurement is analyzed.

Hole dynamics and spin currents after ionization in strong circularly polarized laser fields

“…Combining laser fields with strong magnetic fields, Refs. [38,39] explore relativistic spin currents in cycloatoms.…”

“…Reference [38] shows that the magnetic-field component of the linearly polarized superstrong laser field with intensity larger than 10 20 W cm −2 can flip the electron spin in hydrogen-like systems. Combining laser fields with strong magnetic fields, [39,40] explore relativistic spin currents in cycloatoms. We demonstrate that rich spin dynamics can occur in typical experimental conditions and does not require relativistic intensities or strong magnetic fields.…”

What Is a Muon Anyways: Meson or Lepton!?

“…, and the antineutrino corresponds to the section splitting the sequence ... With these thought in author's mind, reading about cycloatoms [7], which are high energy relativistic effects where the electronic orbitals are molded into new, topologically non-trivial structures, raised another thought: is the laser pumping enough energy to materialize, for example, the toroidal structure of the electron's orbital, in the confining presence of strong magnetic fileds, comparable may be with those of cyclotrons, and yield none other then a muonic atom!? 6 So, let's review, as non-expert cycloatom and see what comes out of this ...…”

“…Computer simulations of classical and quantum mechanical time evolution of the atom in strong magnetic field, excited through a powerful laser [7], have shown resonant relativistic bound states for the electron, with topologies different from that of the usual atomic orbitals, as for instance the ( ) , n l -subshell solutions of Schrodinger equation, e.g. figure eight or propelar-like distributions [9] [10], which were collectively called cycloatoms.…”

“…This magnetic "curving of local-space" alters therefore the bound states, allowing for much larger principal quantum numbers n shells. What is unexpected though, is the topology of such an "orbital", a genus 1 g = (not simply connected) 7 Remark 2.2. It would be interesting to test whether even stronger fields may compress the orbital to behave like a muonic atom; associating the experiment with a particle detector for a non-EM decay together with a lattice model approach [11].…”