Litcius/Paper detail

Generation of Relativistic Structured Spin-Polarized Lepton Beams

Zhongpeng Li, Yu Wang, Yousef I. Salamin, Mamutjan Ababekri, Feng Wan, Qian Zhao, Kun Xue, Ye Tian, Jian-Xing Li

2025Physical Review Letters5 citationsDOI

Abstract

Relativistic structured spin-polarized (SSP) particle beams, characterized by polarization structures, are of critical importance in a wide range of applications, such as material properties investigation, imaging, and information storage. However, the generation of relativistic SSP beams faces significant challenges. Here, we put forward a novel method for generating relativistic SSP lepton beams via employing a state-of-the-art THz source. Building upon our foundational work on velocity-matched spin rotation in dielectric-lined waveguides [Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 075001 (2025)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.134.075001], we present the first demonstration of spin-polarization mode matching-a novel mechanism that establishes a direct relation between waveguide modes and beam polarization states. This breakthrough enables precise spatial control over spin structures at relativistic energies, generating customizable spin-polarization configurations such as spiderlike, azimuthal, and helical structures. Such SSP beams have the potential to generate high-energy structured photon beams and open a new avenue for research on relativistic structured particle beams, especially in nuclear physics, high-energy physics, materials science, and atomic physics.

Topics & Concepts

PhysicsRelativistic particlePolarization (electrochemistry)Relativistic beamingLeptonBeam (structure)Relativistic quantum chemistryPhotonSpin (aerodynamics)Relativistic electron beamRange (aeronautics)Astrophysical jetParticle acceleratorElementary particleParticle physicsRelativistic speedParticle accelerationTracking (education)Terahertz radiationWork (physics)Accelerator physicsWaveguideNuclear physicsComputational physicsParticle (ecology)Spin polarizationTheory of relativityRelativistic plasmaRotation (mathematics)Relativistic wave equationsParticle Accelerators and Free-Electron LasersGyrotron and Vacuum Electronics ResearchCrystallography and Radiation Phenomena