English

Probing QED Vacuum with Heavy Ions

Nuclear Theory 2021-11-02 v1 High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Atomic Physics

Abstract

We recall how nearly half a century ago the proposal was made to explore the structure of the quantum vacuum using slow heavy-ion collisions. Pursuing this topic we review the foundational concept of spontaneous vacuum decay accompanied by observable positron emission in heavy-ion collisions and describe the related theoretical developments in strong fields QED.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1604.08690,
  title  = {Probing QED Vacuum with Heavy Ions},
  author = {Johann Rafelski and Johannes Kirsch and Berndt Müller and Joachim Reinhardt and Walter Greiner},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1604.08690},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

40 pages, Presented by JR at the International Symposium on"New Horizons in Fundamental Physics: From Neutrons Nuclei via Superheavy Elements and Supercritical Fields to Neutron Stars and Cosmic Rays," held to honor Walter Greiner on his 80th birthday at Makutsi Safari Farm, South Africa, November 23-29, 2015

R2 v1 2026-06-22T13:44:13.342Z