Related papers: Vacuum breakdown in a misaligned magnetized Kerr s…
It is shown that force-free electrodynamics (FFE) breaks down in regions where $B^2 -E^2 <0$ (electric zones) even if $\pmb{E}\cdot\pmb{B} =0$. Spontaneous creation of such regions will inevitably lead to plasma oscillations that will…
Generation of quasi-particle--hole pairs in gapped graphene monolayers in the combined field of two counterpropagating light waves is studied. The process represents an analogue of electron-positron pair production from the QED vacuum by…
We derive the spectrum and the total cross section of electromagnetic $e^{+}e^{-}$ pair production in the collisions of two nuclei at low relative velocity $\beta$. Both free-free and bound-free $e^{+}e^{-}$ pair production is considered.…
A multi-decade theoretical effort has been devoted to finding an efficient mechanism to use the rotational and electrodynamical extractable energy of a Kerr-Newman black hole (BH), to power the most energetic astrophysical sources such as…
The presence of magnetic fields in the late inspiral of black hole -- neutron star binaries could lead to potentially detectable electromagnetic precursor transients. Using general-relativistic force-free electrodynamics simulations, we…
We calculate the self-force acting on a charged particle on a circular geodesic orbit in the equatorial plane of a rotating black hole. We show by direct calculation that the dissipative self-force balances with the sum of the flux radiated…
In the present work a closed system of kinetic equations is obtained from the truncation of the BBGKY hierarchy for the description of the vacuum creation of an electron - positron plasma and secondary photons due to a strong laser field.…
Magnetars are neutron stars characterized by strong surface magnetic fields generally exceeding the quantum critical value of 44.1 TeraGauss. High-energy photons propagating in their magnetospheres can be attenuated by QED processes like…
The Electron Diffusion Region (EDR) is the region where magnetic reconnection is initiated and electrons are energized. Because of experimental difficulties, the structure of the EDR is still poorly understood. A key question is whether the…
A magnetic field above the Schwinger critical value $B_{\rm crit} = 10^9$ Tesla is much higher than any magnetic field known by now in the interstellar bulk except in the vicinity of observed magnetars with magnetic fields between $10^9$…
We present a self-consistent kinetic description of an electron-positron-photon ($e^-e^+\gamma$) plasma generated from vacuum in a focal spot of counterpropagating laser pulses. We rely on a model of purely time-dependent external electric…
We propose a mechanism of electroweak baryogenesis based on the Standard Model and explaining the coincidence between the baryon and Dark Matter (DM) densities. Large curvature fluctuations slightly below the threshold for Primordial Black…
The recent evidence for a nanohertz gravitational wave background from Pulsar Timing Arrays highlights the urgent need to identify electromagnetic counterparts to supermassive binary black holes. Here, we perform global 3D general…
Gamma-ray bursts (GRB) are the most powerful events in the universe. They are capable of accelerating particles to very high energies, so are strong candidates as sources of detectable astrophysical neutrinos. We study the effects of…
In addition to producing loud gravitational waves (GW), the dynamics of a binary black hole system could induce emission of electromagnetic (EM) radiation by affecting the behavior of plasmas and electromagnetic fields in their vicinity. We…
We investigate the gravitational energy-momentum distribution in the space-time of two black holes in circular orbit, in the context of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity. This field configuration is important because…
Electron-positron pair production from vacuum in a strong electric field oscillating in time is studied. The field is assumed to consist of two consecutive pulses, with variable time delay in between. Pair production probabilities are…
It has been argued by Dyson in the context of QED in flat spacetime that perturbative expansions in powers of the electric charge e cannot be convergent because if e is purely imaginary then the vacuum should be unstable to the production…
The process of electron-positron pair creation through multi-photon absorption in a space-time dependent electric field is analyzed using computational quantum field theory. Our findings reveal two distinct pair creation channels: the…
We investigate generation of electromagnetic radiation by gravitational waves interacting with a strong magnetic field in the vicinity of a vibrating Schwarzschild black hole. Such an effect may play an important role in gamma-ray bursts…