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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Enhancement Of Electron-Positron Pair Creation Due To Transient Excitation Of Field-Induced Bound States, M Jiang, Q Z. Lv, Z M. Sheng, Rainer Grobe, Qichang Su
Enhancement Of Electron-Positron Pair Creation Due To Transient Excitation Of Field-Induced Bound States, M Jiang, Q Z. Lv, Z M. Sheng, Rainer Grobe, Qichang Su
Faculty publications – Physics
We study the creation of electron-positron pairs induced by two spatially separated electric fields that vary periodically in time. The results are based on large-scale computer simulations of the time-dependent Dirac equation in reduced spatial dimensions. When the separation of the fields is very large, the pair creation is caused by multiphoton transitions and mainly determined by the frequency of the fields. However, for small spatial separations a coherence effect can be observed that can enhance or reduce the particle yield compared to the case of two infinitely separated fields. If the travel time for a created electron or positron …
Suppression Of Pair Creation Due To A Steady Magnetic Field, W Su, M Jiang, Z Q. Lv, Rainer Grobe, Qichang Su
Suppression Of Pair Creation Due To A Steady Magnetic Field, W Su, M Jiang, Z Q. Lv, Rainer Grobe, Qichang Su
Faculty publications – Physics
We investigate the electron-positron pair creation process in a supercritical static electric field in the presence of a static magnetic field that is perpendicular. If both fields vary spatially in one direction the dynamics can be reduced to a set of one-dimensional systems. Using a generalized computational quantum field theoretical procedure, we calculate the time dependence of the spatial density for the created electrons. In the presence of the magnetic field, a significant amount of suppression of pair creation is observed in the simulations and confirmed by an analytical analysis for the limits of short-range fields and long interaction times. …
Pair Creation Enhancement Due To Combined External Fields, M Jiang, W Su, Z Q. Lv, X Lu, Y J. Li, Rainer Grobe, Qichang Su
Pair Creation Enhancement Due To Combined External Fields, M Jiang, W Su, Z Q. Lv, X Lu, Y J. Li, Rainer Grobe, Qichang Su
Faculty publications – Physics
We study the creation of electron-positron pairs from the vacuum induced by a combination of a static electric field and an alternating field. We find that the overall pair production can be increased by two orders of magnitude compared to the yields associated with each field individually. We examine the interesting case where both fields are spatially localized, permitting us to examine the time evolution of the spatial density for the created particle pairs. We find that there are a variety of competing mechanisms that contribute to the total yield.
Bosonic Analog Of The Klein Paradox, R E. Wagner, M R. Ware, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Bosonic Analog Of The Klein Paradox, R E. Wagner, M R. Ware, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Faculty publications – Physics
The standard Klein paradox describes how an incoming electron scatters off a supercritical electrostatic barrier that is so strong that it can generate electron- positron pairs. This fermionic system has been widely discussed in textbooks to illustrate some of the discrepancies between quantum mechanical and quantum field theoretical descriptions for the pair creation process. We compare the fermionic dynamics with that of the corresponding bosonic system. We point out that the direct counterpart of the Pauli exclusion principle (the central mechanism to resolve the fermionic Klein paradox) is stimulated emission, which leads to the resolution of the analogous bosonic paradox.
Creation Of Multiple Electron-Positron Pairs In Arbitrary Fields, T Cheng, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Creation Of Multiple Electron-Positron Pairs In Arbitrary Fields, T Cheng, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Faculty publications – Physics
We examine the spontaneous breakdown of the matter vacuum triggered by an external force of arbitrary strength and spatial and temporal variations. We derive a nonperturbative framework that permits the computation of the complete time evolution of various multiple electron-positron pair probabilities. These time-dependent probabilities can be computed from a generating function as well as from solutions to a set of ratelike equations with coupling constants determined by the single-particle solutions to the time-dependent Dirac equation. This approach might be of relevance to the planned experiments to observe for the first time the laser-induced breakdown process of the vacuum.
Timing Of Pair Production In Time-Dependent Force Fields, Christopher C. Gerry, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Timing Of Pair Production In Time-Dependent Force Fields, Christopher C. Gerry, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Faculty publications – Physics
We examine the creation and annihilation dynamics for electron-positron pairs in a time-dependent but subcritical electric force using a simplified model system. Numerical and semianalytical solutions to computational quantum field theory show that despite the continuity of the quantum field operator in time, the actual number of created particles can change in a discontinuous way if the field changes abruptly. The number of permanently created particles after the pulse, however, increases continuously with the duration of the electric field pulse, suggesting a transition from an exclusive annihilation to a creation regime.
Interpretational Difficulties In Quantum Field Theory, P Krekora, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Interpretational Difficulties In Quantum Field Theory, P Krekora, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Faculty publications – Physics
Based on space-time-resolved solutions to relativistic quantum field theory we illustrate interpretational difficulties in associating field-theoretical quantities with properties of particles. These difficulties are related to the fact that the definition of the spatial probability density of particles depends on the choice of the Hilbert subspace on which the field operator is projected. We illustrate these problems by analyzing pair-production probabilities and spatial densities for the electron-positron dynamics associated with a spatially localized subcritical potential that is turned on and off in time.