Published November 5, 2010 | Version v1
Journal article

Pair Creation in QED-Strong Pulsed Laser Fields Interacting with Electron Beams

  • 1. Space Physics Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States)
  • 2. Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquee, UMR 7639 ENSTA, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, 91761 Palaiseau (France)
  • 3. Center for Ultrafast Optical Science and FOCUS Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States)
  • 4. Institut de la Lumiere Extreme, UMS 3205 ENSTA, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, 91761 Palaiseau (France)

Description

QED effects are known to occur in a strong laser pulse interaction with a counterpropagating electron beam, among these effects being electron-positron pair creation. We discuss the range of laser pulse intensities of J≥5x1022 W/cm2 combined with electron beam energies of tens of GeV. In this regime multiple pairs may be generated from a single beam electron, some of the newborn particles being capable of further pair production. Radiation backreaction prevents avalanche development and limits pair creation. The system of integro-differential kinetic equations for electrons, positrons and γ photons is derived and solved numerically.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
105
Journal Issue
19
Journal Page Range
p. 195005-195005.4
ISSN
0031-9007
CODEN
PRLTAO

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2010 American Institute of Physics