Nonlinear single Compton scattering of an electron wave-packet

Abstract

Nonlinear single Compton scattering has been thoroughly investigated in the literature under the assumption that initially the electron has a definite momentum. Here, we study a more general initial state, and consider the electron as a wave-packet. In particular, we investigate the energy spectrum of the emitted radiation and show that in typical experimental situations some features of the spectra shown in previous works are almost completely washed out. Moreover, we show that at comparable relative uncertainties, the one in the momentum of the incoming electron has a larger impact on the photon spectra at a fixed observation direction than the one on the laser frequency.