2008/08/31 by A. R. Bell, J. G. Kirk, John G. Kirk · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques #Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications #Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.101.200403
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 200403 (2008) · 4 pages, 1 figure, minor revisions, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters
arxiv created 2008/10/16 · openalex publication_date 2008/11/11 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Prolific electron-positron pair production is possible at laser intensities approaching 1024 W cm^\ensuremath-2 at a wavelength of 1 \ensuremathμm. An analysis of electron trajectories and interactions at the nodes (B=0) of two counterpropagating, circularly polarized laser beams shows that a cascade of \ensuremathγ rays and pairs develops. The geometry is generalized qualitatively to linear polarization and laser beams incident on a solid target.