Quantum free-electron laser: single- and multiphoton transitions

Abstract

The quantum free-electron laser (Quantum FEL) is a proposed xray source. In contrast to existing devices (classical FEL), where an electron in the undulator follows continuous trajectories and emits many photons, an electron in the Quantum FEL occupies only two resonant levels on a discrete momentum ladder and emits at most one photon. We investigate the influence of multiphoton corrections [1] on the dynamics of the electron and on the photon statistics of the emitted radiation. Moreover, we (i) try to identify the challenges for an experimental realization [2] and (ii) study the transition between classical and quantum regime in the FEL from a fundamental point of view [3].

[1] P. Kling, E. Giese, Phys. Rev. Research 5, 033057 (2023). [2] A. Debus et al., Phys. Scr. 94, 074001 (2019). [3] C. M. Carmesin et al., Phys. Rev. Research 2, 023027 (2020).