Finite orbital-angular-momentum carried by the final electron and photon in plane-wave electron-nucleus bremsstrahlung

Abstract

In quantum-electrodynamics scatterings the transfer of angular momentum between initial and final states can be resolved using the vortex scattering theory, where involved particles are described by quantum vortex states with featured orbital angular momentum (OAM). Here we employ the vortex scattering scenario in bremsstrahlung of a plane-wave electron by describing the final electron and photon in vortex states. We find that, while the total cross-section and angular distribution of the vortex scattering scenario are consistent with those from the ordinary plane-wave scattering, the final states in the former can gain non-negligible OAM values even though the incident electron does not contain any OAM. Moreover, introducing the OAM degree of freedom conserves the total angular momentum in polarized scattering. The dependence of the OAM on the opening angle of the vortex state and the energy ratio of photon to electron are obtained. It is shown that the emitted photon gains higher OAM at larger angles and energy ratios.