English

Horizons of Strong Field Physics

Accelerator Physics 2010-05-12 v1 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Classical Physics Optics

Abstract

Discussing the limitations on the validity of classical electrodynamics, we show that present day laser pulse technology applied to head-on-collisions with relativistic electrons generates fields strong enough to permit experimentation at the limits of validity of the Lorentz force, and the development of experimental tests of Mach's principle. We also discuss more distant opportunities for exploring the nature of laws of physics and the vacuum structure. We then conclude that the predictions of quantum electrodynamics in the presence of critical fields are not completely satisfactory and argue that the study of Laser materialization into particle pairs opens a new domain of quantum electrodynamics.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0911.5556,
  title  = {Horizons of Strong Field Physics},
  author = {Johann Rafelski and Lance Labun and Yaron Hadad},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0911.5556},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

15 pages, to Appear in AIP proceedings of "Light at Extreme Intensities" (LEI 2009) meeting, held October 16-21, 2009 in Brasov