Gouy Phase-Related Effects in the Free-Space Optical Modulation of Free Electrons

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Zhao, Zhexin, Fang, Yiqi, Uludağ, Mevlana Yunus, Hommelhoff, Peter
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Zhao, Zhexin
Fang, Yiqi
Uludağ, Mevlana Yunus
Hommelhoff, Peter
author_facet Zhao, Zhexin
Fang, Yiqi
Uludağ, Mevlana Yunus
Hommelhoff, Peter
contents Modulating the free-electron wave function with light brings new opportunities to create attosecond electron pulse trains, to probe the quantum coherence of systems with significantly improved spatial resolution, and to generate classical and non-classical states of light with wide tunability. It is therefore crucial to efficiently generate free-electron wave functions that are suitable for these applications. In this study, we theoretically investigate an efficient free-space optical modulation of free electrons with two counter-propagating Gaussian beams. We find that the Gaussian beams' Gouy phase not only plays a crucial role in the interaction, but also enables straight-forward generation of valuable free-electron states, including comb-shape spectra with similar amplitudes, and states with high degree of coherence. We also discuss the feasibility of demonstrating these Gouy phase-related effects with chirped femto-second laser pulses. Our study establishes a theoretical foundation and physical intuition about the role of the Gouy phase. It can provide guidance to efficiently shape the free-electron wave function for a wide range of quantum applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_24939
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Gouy Phase-Related Effects in the Free-Space Optical Modulation of Free Electrons
Zhao, Zhexin
Fang, Yiqi
Uludağ, Mevlana Yunus
Hommelhoff, Peter
Optics
Quantum Physics
Modulating the free-electron wave function with light brings new opportunities to create attosecond electron pulse trains, to probe the quantum coherence of systems with significantly improved spatial resolution, and to generate classical and non-classical states of light with wide tunability. It is therefore crucial to efficiently generate free-electron wave functions that are suitable for these applications. In this study, we theoretically investigate an efficient free-space optical modulation of free electrons with two counter-propagating Gaussian beams. We find that the Gaussian beams' Gouy phase not only plays a crucial role in the interaction, but also enables straight-forward generation of valuable free-electron states, including comb-shape spectra with similar amplitudes, and states with high degree of coherence. We also discuss the feasibility of demonstrating these Gouy phase-related effects with chirped femto-second laser pulses. Our study establishes a theoretical foundation and physical intuition about the role of the Gouy phase. It can provide guidance to efficiently shape the free-electron wave function for a wide range of quantum applications.
title Gouy Phase-Related Effects in the Free-Space Optical Modulation of Free Electrons
topic Optics
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.24939