What happens when an electron is hit by a laser beam?

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SUMMARY

When an electron in a vacuum encounters a laser beam, it experiences scattering due to the transfer of momentum from the photons. This interaction can result in a change in the angle of the electron's trajectory. Lasers can indeed be utilized to guide electrons, although the scattering does not occur uniformly in all directions. This principle underlies the use of lasers in particle accelerators, where they can accelerate particles more efficiently than traditional electric fields.

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  • Understanding of photon-electron interactions
  • Familiarity with laser technology and its applications
  • Knowledge of momentum conservation principles
  • Basic concepts of particle acceleration techniques
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Physicists, engineers in particle physics, researchers in laser technology, and anyone interested in the dynamics of electron interactions with light.

The_Thinker
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Just a quick question. We know that an accelerated electron shoots out light, and light that falls on an electron in an atom, excites it. But what happens to an electron in vaccum, when it encounters a laser beam?

If an electron beam from an electron microscope, were to to intercept a laser beam, what would happen?

Would the beam be shifted in angle? And why if they are can lasers be used to accelerate particles in a particle accelerator instead of using an electric field?
 
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An electron can scatter light. The scattered light can transfer some momentum the electron, such that total momentum of the electron-photon system is conserved.

Ha e you heard of a light sail? If not, then Google it.
 
Light sails use mirrors, I was aware of them before. But I am specifically asking what direction an electron would be scattered in, in the presence of a laser.

Can a laser be used to guide an electron for instance? Or does the scattering take place in all angles?
 
Yes you can guide an ekectron with a laser.

Edit, but not every direction. You can't draw the electron toward the laser.
 

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