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Title: Polarization-operator approach to electron-positron pair production in combined laser and Coulomb fields

Abstract

The optical theorem is applied to the process of electron-positron pair creation in the superposition of a nuclear Coulomb and a strong laser field. We derive representations for the total production rate as twofold integrals, both for circular laser polarization and for the general case of elliptic polarization. Our approach allows us to obtain, by analytical means, the asymptotic behavior of the pair creation rate for various limits of interest. In particular, we consider pair production by two-photon absorption and show that, close to the energetic threshold of this process, the rate obeys a power law in the laser frequency with different exponents for linear and circular laser polarization. With the help of the upcoming x-ray laser sources, our results could be tested experimentally.

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg (Germany)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20787434
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. A
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 73; Journal Issue: 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.73.062106; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; ABSORPTION; COULOMB FIELD; ELECTRON PAIRS; ELECTRON-POSITRON INTERACTIONS; ELECTRONS; INTEGRALS; LASER RADIATION; MULTI-PHOTON PROCESSES; OPTICAL THEOREM; PAIR PRODUCTION; PHOTONS; POLARIZATION; POSITRONS; QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS; VISIBLE RADIATION; X-RAY LASERS

Citation Formats

Milstein, A I, Mueller, C, Hatsagortsyan, K Z, Jentschura, U D, and Keitel, C H. Polarization-operator approach to electron-positron pair production in combined laser and Coulomb fields. United States: N. p., 2006. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0.
Milstein, A I, Mueller, C, Hatsagortsyan, K Z, Jentschura, U D, & Keitel, C H. Polarization-operator approach to electron-positron pair production in combined laser and Coulomb fields. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0
Milstein, A I, Mueller, C, Hatsagortsyan, K Z, Jentschura, U D, and Keitel, C H. 2006. "Polarization-operator approach to electron-positron pair production in combined laser and Coulomb fields". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0.
@article{osti_20787434,
title = {Polarization-operator approach to electron-positron pair production in combined laser and Coulomb fields},
author = {Milstein, A I and Mueller, C and Hatsagortsyan, K Z and Jentschura, U D and Keitel, C H},
abstractNote = {The optical theorem is applied to the process of electron-positron pair creation in the superposition of a nuclear Coulomb and a strong laser field. We derive representations for the total production rate as twofold integrals, both for circular laser polarization and for the general case of elliptic polarization. Our approach allows us to obtain, by analytical means, the asymptotic behavior of the pair creation rate for various limits of interest. In particular, we consider pair production by two-photon absorption and show that, close to the energetic threshold of this process, the rate obeys a power law in the laser frequency with different exponents for linear and circular laser polarization. With the help of the upcoming x-ray laser sources, our results could be tested experimentally.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20787434}, journal = {Physical Review. A},
issn = {1050-2947},
number = 6,
volume = 73,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006},
month = {Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006}
}