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The investigation of spin and polarization effects in ultra-high intensity laser–plasma and laser–beam interactions has become an emergent topic in high-field science recently. In this paper, we derive a relativistic kinetic description of spin-polarized plasmas, where quantum-electrodynamics effects are taken into account via Boltzmann-type collision operators under the local constant field approximation. The emergence of anomalous precession is derived from one-loop self-energy contributions in a strong background field. We are interested, in particular, in the interplay between radiation reaction effects and the spin polarization of the radiating particles. For this, we derive equations for spin-polarized quantum radiation reaction from moments of the spin-polarized kinetic equations. By comparing with the classical theory, we identify and discuss the spin-dependent radiation reaction terms and radiative contributions to spin dynamics.
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This content will become publicly available on May 9, 2026
Relativistic Plasma Mirrors for Generating Bright Harmonics with Tuneable Polarization
We generate elliptically polarized harmonics with tunable handedness by controlling laser ellipticity in relativistic laser-solid interactions. Experiments closely match simulations, enabling multi-color, circularly polarized relativistic-intensity pulses, with up to 10% energy in the second harmonic.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2206711
- PAR ID:
- 10654058
- Publisher / Repository:
- Optica Publishing Group
- Date Published:
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- FF122_7
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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