2020/11/30 by Yitong Wu, Liangliang Ji, Wu, Yitong +3 · 2 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Laser Design and Applications #Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications #Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics #Optics (physics.optics) #Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2011.14656
openalex publication_date 2020/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The upper limit of the laser field strength in perfect vacuum is usually considered as the Schwinger field, corresponding to ~1029W/cm2. We investigate such limitations under realistic non-ideal vacuum conditions and find out that intensity suppression appears starting from 1025W/cm2, showing an upper threshold at 1026W/cm2 level if the residual electron density in chamber surpasses 109cm-3. This is because the presence of residual electrons triggers the avalanche of quantum-electrodynamics cascade that creates copious electron and positron pairs. The leptons are further trapped within the driving laser field due to radiation-reaction, which significantly depletes the laser energy. The relationship between the attainable intensity and the vacuity is given according to particle-in-cell simulations and theoretical analysis. These results answer a critical problem on the achievable light intensity based on present vacuum conditions and provide a guideline for future 100's-Petawatt class laser development.