LAUSR

Abstract An electron scattering scheme is proposed to explore and quantify the focal field of radially polarized beam (RPB). Based on the Richard-Wolf method we deduce the description of the RPB's focal field, analyze the interaction and motion of the electrons in the focal field of the RPB, using both electrodynamical and pondermotive method. Our results show that the geometrical and field information of RPB focus are included in the electron scattering patterns which can be measured easily by experiment. Then we develop and demonstrate an experimental scheme to probe the RPB focal field by electron beam scattering, whose results agree well with the theoretical conclusions. Our scheme is also available for analyzing other cylindrically polarized beams.