English

Phase space evolution of pairs created in strong electric fields

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics 2013-03-13 v1 Plasma Physics

Abstract

We study the process of energy conversion from overcritical electric field into electron-positron-photon plasma. We solve numerically Vlasov-Boltzmann equations for pairs and photons assuming the system to be homogeneous and anisotropic. All the 2-particle QED interactions between pairs and photons are described by collision terms. We evidence several epochs of this energy conversion, each of them associated to a specific physical process. Firstly pair creation occurs, secondly back reaction results in plasma oscillations. Thirdly photons are produced by electron-positron annihilation. Finally particle interactions lead to completely equilibrated thermal electron-positron-photon plasma.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1303.2916,
  title  = {Phase space evolution of pairs created in strong electric fields},
  author = {Alberto Benedetti and Remo Ruffini and Gregory Vereshchagin},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1303.2916},
  year   = {2013}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-21T23:40:51.548Z