Compton ionization of atomic hydrogen by a twisted photon under the conditions of the electron-ion coincidence method
Phys. Rev. A 112, 022812 – Published 13 August, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/nlk1-1v39
Abstract
Electron-ion coincidence method, in particular cold-target recoil-ion momentum spectroscopy (COLTRIMS), is currently the most advanced tool for detailed study of the processes of Compton ionization of atoms. We have performed a theoretical analysis of the capabilities of this method as applied to Compton ionization of an atom by a twisted x-ray photon. Our analysis uses the nonstationary formalism of quantum scattering theory, which, unlike the generally accepted stationary formalism, allows one to take into account the specifics of real initial states (wave packets) of a photon and an atom. We have shown that the energy and angular distribution of ionized electrons measured in coincidence with recoil ions does not depend on the orbital angular momentum of the twisted photon, but depends on its cone angle (opening angle), which determines the characteristic angular shift in the distribution.
