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Updated: Oct 4, 2026

Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps
Published on: August 17, 2017
Universal Spin Control of Leptons and Ions via a Laser-Driven Unipolar Surface Wave
F M Jiang1,2, X F Li1,2, Y S Zeng1,2
1Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, State Key Laboratory of Ultra-intense laser Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
Abstract:
Manipulating the spin of ultrarelativistic charged particle beams is a cornerstone of high-energy physics, yet its practical implementation has been limited by intrinsic energy dependence and a lack of universality across particle species. Here, we introduce the concept of a "unipolar surface wave spin rotator" that overcomes these barriers. In this scheme, a laser-driven, unipolar surface wave generates an extreme traveling electromagnetic impulse which imparts a unidirectional spin kick to a counterpropagating charged particle beam without requiring phase matching. We theoretically show that spin rotation from transverse to longitudinal polarization achieves ∼100% efficiency within 25 mm for both leptons and ions, and across an energy range from GeV to TeV while preserving beam quality. This approach establishes a new paradigm for universal spin manipulator in future particle accelerators.
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