Pair Creation and an X-Ray Free Electron Laser

2001/08/17 by Reinhard Alkofer, R. Alkofer, M. B. Hecht +5 · 3 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques #Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics #Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers #hep-ex #hep-ph #nucl-ex #nucl-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.87.193902

published as Phys.Rev.Lett.87:193902,2001 · 4 pages, LaTeX2e

arxiv created 2001/08/17 · openalex publication_date 2001/10/23 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Using a quantum kinetic equation we study the possibility that focused beams at proposed x-ray free electron laser facilities can initiate spontaneous electron-positron pair production from the QED vacuum. Under conditions reckoned achievable at planned facilities, repeated cycles of particle creation and annihilation will take place in tune with the laser frequency. The peak particle number density is insensitive to this frequency, and one can anticipate the production of a few hundred particle pairs per laser period.

Citations

• A quantum kinetic equation for particle production in the Schwinger mechanism

Cited by

• Birefringence and non-transversality of light propagation in an ultra-strongly magnetized vacuum
• Electron–positron pair production in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions
• Momentum Signatures for Schwinger Pair Production in Short Laser Pulses with a Subcycle Structure