Shakeoff of the vacuum polarization in quasimolecular collisions of very heavy ions

Journal Article · Mon Mar 14 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.38.592· OSTI ID:7316763

Soff, G; Reinhardt, J; Mueller, B; Greiner, W

The theory of direct electron-positron pair production in the collision of heavy ions is formulated in the framework of the quasimolecular model. The pair production process acquires a collective nature for (Z/sub 1/+Z/sub 2/) ..cap alpha..>1 and can be understood as the shakeoff of the strong vacuum polarization cloud formed in the quasimolecule. The total cross section is, e.g., 76 ..mu..b for Pb+Pb at Coulomb barrier energies.

• Research Organization: Institut fuer Theoretische Physik der Universitaet Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
• OSTI ID: 7316763
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 38:11; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTRON PAIRS
ELEMENTS
FIELD THEORIES
HEAVY IONS
INTERACTIONS
ION COLLISIONS
ION-ION COLLISIONS
IONS
LEAD
METALS
PAIR PRODUCTION
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS
VACUUM POLARIZATION