Twisted Volkov states in a plasma

This work considers quantum electron states in the field of twisted waves in a plasma. We consider electromagnetic and electrostatic waves. They can be associated with intense laser pulses carrying orbital angular momentum, and to the resulting twisted wakefields. Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations are considered. We show that twisted Volkov states of electrons in electromagnetic and electrostatic waves in a plasma can be excited, and discuss their main properties. These results support the idea that acceleration of helical electron beams in plasmas is possible.