Transitions into the negative-energy Dirac continuum

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 2004 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.70.054101· OSTI ID:20646302

Krekora, P; Su, Q; Grobe, R ^[1]

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1. Intense Laser Physics Theory Unit and Department of Physics, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois 61790-4560 (United States)

We compare the predictions of the single-particle Dirac equation with quantum field theory for an electron subjected to a space and time dependent field. We demonstrate analytically and numerically that a transition into the negative-energy subspace predicted by the single-particle Dirac equation is directly associated with the degree of suppression of pair-production as described by quantum field theory. We show that the portion of the mathematical wave function that populates the negative-energy states corresponds to the difference between the positron spatial density for systems with and without an electron initially present.

• OSTI ID: 20646302
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 70, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.70.054101; (c) 2004 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIRAC EQUATION
ELECTRONS
NEGATIVE ENERGY STATES
PAIR PRODUCTION
POSITRONS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
TIME DEPENDENCE
WAVE FUNCTIONS