Physics – Nuclear Physics – Nuclear Theory
Scientific paper
2001-08-17
Phys.Rev.Lett.87:193902,2001
Physics
Nuclear Physics
Nuclear Theory
4 pages, LaTeX2e
Scientific paper
10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.193902
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 electron-positron pair production from the QED vacuum. Our approach yields the time and momentum dependence of the single particle distribution function. Under conditions reckoned achievable at planned facilities, repeated cycles of particle creation and annihilation take place in tune with the laser frequency. However, the peak particle number density is insensitive to this frequency and one can anticipate the production of a few hundred particle pairs per laser period. Field-current feedback and quantum statistical effects are small and can be neglected in this application of non-equilibrium quantum mean field theory.
Alkofer Reinhard
Hecht M. B.
Roberts Christopher D.
Schmidt Steve M.
Vinnik D. V.
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