In search of spontaneous positron creation

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5732069

Greenberg, J S

The recent experiments investigating the behavior of the electron-positron field in strong external electromagnetic fields is reviewed. In particular, the search for spontaneous positron creation in superheavy collision systems is discussed. A striking new result emerging from this search is the observation of narrow peaked structures in the positron spectra whose origin cannot be associated with the established dynamic mechanisms of positron production involving Coulomb trajectories only. The possibility that these peaks may be signatures for the spontaneous decay of the vacuum and for the formation of metastable giant nuclear complexes is considered in the content of recent experimental results. 52 references, 23 figures.

• Research Organization: Yale Univ., New Haven, CT
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ER03074
• OSTI ID: 5732069
• Report Number(s): CONF-820855-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 94
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
645400 -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ANTILEPTONS
ANTIMATTER
ANTIPARTICLES
BINDING ENERGY
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
COULOMB FIELD
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTRON PAIRS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FERMIONS
FIELD THEORIES
HEAVY IONS
INNER-SHELL IONIZATION
INTERACTIONS
IONIZATION
IONS
LEPTONS
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
PAIR PRODUCTION
PHYSICS
POSITRONS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
RESONANCE
TRANS 104 ELEMENTS
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
VACUUM STATES