Magnetized plasma rotator for relativistic mid-infrared pulses via frequency-variable Faraday rotation
Year: 2026
Authors: Li DA., Zhang GB., Pegoraro F., Zhao Q., Liu WJ., Zhu XL., Zou DB., Li JX., Pukhov A., Sheng ZM., Yu TP.
Autors Affiliation: Natl Univ Def Technol, Coll Sci, Changsha 410073, Peoples R China; Univ Pisa, Phys Dept, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; CNR, Ist Nazl Ott INO, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; Xi An Jiao Tong Univ, Key Lab Nonequilibrium Synth & Modulat, Shaanxi Prov Key Lab Quantum Informat & Quantum Op, Sch Phys,Minist Educ, Xian 710049, Peoples R China; Zhejiang Univ, Inst Fus Theory & Simulat, Sch Phys, Hangzhou 310058, Peoples R China; Heinrich Heine Univ Dusseldorf, Inst Theoret Phys 1, D-40225 Dusseldorf, Germany; Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Phys & Astron, Key Lab Laser Plasmas, MOE, Shanghai 200240, Peoples R China; Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Collaborat Innovat Ctr IFSA, Shanghai 200240, Peoples R China; Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Tsung Dao Lee Inst, Shanghai 201210, Peoples R China.
Abstract: Optical rotators based on the Faraday effect have been widely used in optical systems, such as optical isolation and circulators. However, due to the limitation of crystals, the application of such optical rotators in high-power lasers has been severely hindered. Here, we propose a novel plasma rotator based on the frequency-variable Faraday rotation (FVFR) in a compact manner, achieved by driving the magnetized underdense plasma with a relativistic linearly polarized laser. In the magnetized plasma, the drive laser undergoes photon deceleration and relativistic Faraday rotation, leading to the generation of relativistic polarization-tunable mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulse with intensity >= 1016documentclass[12pt]{minimal} usepackage{amsmath} usepackage{wasysym} usepackage{amsfonts} usepackage{amssymb} usepackage{amsbsy} usepackage{mathrsfs} usepackage{upgreek} setlength{oddsidemargin}{-69pt} egin{document}$$ge {10}<^>{16}$$end{document} W cm-2 and a spectral width of 5-25 mu m. With different magnetic fields, the polarization angle of the generated mid-IR pulse can be well controlled. Especially, one can obtain a circularly polarized mid-IR pulse with the spatial average polarization degree of >= 0.94documentclass[12pt]{minimal} usepackage{amsmath} usepackage{wasysym} usepackage{amsfonts} usepackage{amssymb} usepackage{amsbsy} usepackage{mathrsfs} usepackage{upgreek} setlength{oddsidemargin}{-69pt} egin{document}$$ge 0.94$$end{document} at a suitable external magnetic field. The robustness of the rotator has been well demonstrated through comprehensive three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations across a wide range of laser and plasma parameters. Such a rotator via FVFR is valid from mid to far-infrared and even THz waveband, offering new opportunities for strong-field physics, attosecond science, laboratory astrophysics, etc, and paving the way for relativistic plasma magneto-optics and future relativistic plasma optical devices.
Journal/Review: LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
Volume: 15 (1) Pages from: 25-1 to: 25-12
More Information: We thank Dr. Andrea Macchi from University of Pisa for assistance in clarifying laser propagation and Faraday rotation in magnetized plasmas. This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12375244, 12475252, 12135009, 12205186, U2267204, and 12475249), and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province of China (Grant No. 2025JJ30002).KeyWords: Ultra-intense; Laser-pulses; Field; Acceleration; Polarization; Generation; PhysicsDOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02047-x
