General quantum-mechanical solution for twisted electrons in a uniform magnetic field

Abstract

A theory of twisted (and other structured) paraxial electrons in a uniform magnetic field is developed. The obtained general quantum-mechanical solution of the relativistic paraxial equation contains the commonly accepted result as a specific case of unstructured electron waves. Unlike all precedent investigations, the present study describes structured electron states which are not plane waves along the magnetic field direction. In the weak-field limit, our solution (unlike the existing theory) is consistent with the well-known equation for free twisted electron beams. The observable effect of a different behavior of relativistic Laguerre-Gauss beams with opposite directions of the orbital angular momentum penetrating from the free space into a magnetic field is predicted. Distinguishing features of the quantization of the velocity and the effective mass of the Laguerre-Gauss and Landau electrons in the uniform magnetic field are analyzed.