Related papers: Strong Scalar QED in Inhomogeneous Electromagnetic…
The vacuum of quantum electrodynamics is unstable against the formation of many-body states in the presence of an external electric field, manifesting itself as the creation of electron-positron pairs (Schwinger effect). This effect has…
A formula for the ionization rate in extremely intense electromagnetic field is proposed and used for numerical study of QED (quantum-electrodynamical) cascades in noble gases in the field of two counter-propagating laser pulses. It is…
We give an exact, analytic, and manifestly gauge invariant account of pair production in combined longitudinal and transverse electromagnetic fields, both depending arbitrarily on lightfront time. The instantaneous, nonperturbative…
Quantum electrodynamics (QED) becomes nonlinear when the magnetic field strength surpasses the critical Schwinger limit $B_Q \approx 4.41\cdot 10^{13}$ G. This limit is surpassed, for example, in the magnetospheres of a specific class of…
In the framework of QED with a strong background, we study particle creation (the Schwinger effect) by a time-dependent inverse square electric field. To this end corresponding exact in- and out-solutions of the Dirac and Klein-Gordon…
Spontaneous creation of electron-positron pairs out of the vacuum due to a strong electric field is a spectacular manifestation of the relativistic energy-momentum relation for the Dirac fermions. This fundamental prediction of Quantum…
Circuit QED systems provide an ideal platform for exploring the strong-coupling regime of multimode cavity QED. Here we present two new phenomena from multimode strong coupling: a circuit Lagrangian analysis which captures beyond…
We investigate Schwinger pair production in spatially inhomogeneous electric backgrounds. A critical point for the onset of pair production can be approached by fields that marginally provide sufficient electrostatic energy for an off-shell…
In these lecture notes we give an introduction to the kinetic equation approach to pair production form the vacuum in strong, time-dependent external fields (dynamical Schwinger process). We first give a derivation of the kinetic equation…
Up to date, quantum electrodynamics (QED) is the most precisely tested quantum field theory. Nevertheless, particularly in the high-intensity regime it predicts various phenomena that so far have not directly been accessible in all-optical…
It is believed that in presence of some strong electromagnetic fields, called overcritical, the (Dirac) vacuum becomes unstable and decays leading to a spontaneous production of an electron-positron pair. Yet, the arguments are based mainly…
Using a quantum kinetic equation coupled to Maxwell's equation we study the possibility that focused beams at proposed X-ray free electron laser facilities can generate electric field strengths large enough to cause spontaneous…
We evaluate the cross section for electron-positron pair production by a single high energy photon in the space-time of a static, straight cosmic string. Energy and momentum conservation precludes this process in empty Minkowski space. It…
A derivation of fully polarization-resolved probabilities is provided for high-energy photon emission and electron-positron pair production in ultrastrong laser fields. The probabilities resolved in both electron spin and photon…
The response of the QED vacuum in an asymptotically large electromagnetic field is studied. In this regime the vacuum energy is strongly influenced by the vacuum polarization effect. The possible interaction between the virtual…
We study nonperturbative pair production in intense, focused laser fields called e-dipole pulses. We address the conditions required, such as the quality of the vacuum, for reaching high intensities without initiating beam-depleting…
We give a brief overview of the most important QED effects that can be studied in the presence of extreme fields such as those expected at the Vulcan laser upgraded to a power of 10 Petawatts.
Analytical calculations of radiative corrections in strong-field QED have hinted that in the presence of an intense plane wave the effective coupling of the theory in the high-energy sector may increase as the $(2/3)$-power of the energy…
The specific features of nonlinear pair production and radiation processes in an ultratsrong rotating electric field are investigated, taking into account that this field models the antinodes of counterpropagating laser beams. It is shown…
We consider the details of the QED processes that create electron-positron pairs in magnetic fields approaching and exceeding 10^{14} G. The formation of free and bound pairs is addressed, and the importance of positronium dissociation by…