2021/08/31 by Anton Ilderton · 1 citation
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Adiabatic process #Atomic and Molecular Physics #Basis (linear algebra) #Computer science #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Epistemology #Interpretation (philosophy) #Mathematics #Meaning (existential) #Pair production #Particle number #Philosophy #Physics #Quantum #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics #Quantum electrodynamics #Quantum mechanics #Quantum number #Statistical physics #Theoretical physics #Volume (thermodynamics) #hep-ph #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.105.016021
V2: matches published version. More pheno added. Message unchanged. 11 pages
openalex publication_date 2022/01/24 · arxiv created 2022/03/15 · arxiv updated 2022/03/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The production of electron-positron pairs from light is a famous prediction of quantum electrodynamics. Yet it is often emphasised that the number of produced pairs has no physical meaning until the driving electromagnetic fields are switched off, as otherwise its definition is basis-dependent. The common adiabatic definition, in particular, can predict the `creation' of a number of pairs orders of magnitude larger than the final yield. We show here, by clarifying exactly what is being counted, that the adiabatic number of pairs has an unambiguous and physical interpretation. As a result, and perhaps contrary to expectation, the large numbers of pairs seen at non-asymptotic times become, in principle, physically accessible.