Abstract: We present a theoretical investigation of Vavilov-Cherenkov (VC) radiation by a plane wave or twisted electron. Special emphasis is put on the question of whether and at what conditions the emitted VC photons can be twisted. For this aim we obtain a general expression in the coordinate and momentum representations for the quantum state of the final electron-photon system that is a result of the radiation process itself and does not depend on the properties of a detector. It is shown that this evolved state is an entangled state of an electron and a photon, and both particles can be twisted. A direct consequence of this result follows: if one uses a detector sensitive to the twisted electron (photon) with the definite projection of the total angular momentum (TAM), then the final photon (electron) also will be in the twisted state with a definite TAM projection. Further, we investigate the polarization properties of the final twisted photon in more general conditions than have been calculated before. Finally, we exploit a close similarity between the discussed VC radiation and the process of the equivalent photon emission in the Weizsäcker-Williams method and find the corresponding final state.

Cite: Chaikovskaia A.D. , Karlovets D.V. , Serbo V.G.
Vavilov-Cherenkov emission with twisted electrons: A study of the final entangled state
Physical Review A. 2024. V.109. N1. 012222 :1-14. DOI: 10.1103/physreva.109.012222 WOS Scopus РИНЦ OpenAlex

Dates:

Submitted:	Oct 17, 2023
Accepted:	Jan 2, 2024
Published online:	Jan 26, 2024
Published print:	Mar 29, 2024

Identifiers:

≡ Web of science:	WOS:001163807900006
≡ Scopus:	2-s2.0-85184025340
≡ Elibrary:	65947508
≡ OpenAlex:	W4391255459

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