Physics – Nuclear Physics – Nuclear Theory
Scientific paper
2001-01-12
Nucl.Phys. A695 (2001) 395-429
Physics
Nuclear Physics
Nuclear Theory
31 pages LaTeX document, 10 postscript figures (expanded 3rd section, version to be published in Nucl. Phys. A)
Scientific paper
10.1016/S0375-9474(01)01109-5
The purpose of this paper is to explain the discrepancies existing in the literature relative to $e^+e^-$ pair production in peripheral heavy ion collisions at ultra-relativistic energies. A controversial issue is the possible cancellation of Coulomb corrections to the Born term in the pair production cross-section. Such a cancellation has been observed in a recent approach based on finding retarded solutions of the Dirac equation, but does not seem to hold in a perturbative approach. We show in this paper that the two approaches are in fact calculating different observables: the perturbative approach gives the exclusive cross-section of single pair production, while the other method gives the inclusive cross-section. We have also performed a thorough study of the electron propagator in the non-static background field of the two nuclei, the conclusion of which is that the retarded propagator is in the ultra-relativistic limit a much simpler object than the Feynman propagator, and can be calculated exactly.
Baltz Anthony J.
Gelis Francois
McLerran Larry
Peshier Andre
No associations
LandOfFree
Coulomb corrections to $e^+ e^-$ production in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Coulomb corrections to $e^+ e^-$ production in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Coulomb corrections to $e^+ e^-$ production in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-470789