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Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Commons™
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Full-Text Articles in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
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.
Locality In The Creation Of Electron-Positron Pairs, T Cheng, S P. Bowen, C C. Gerry, Rainer Grobe
Locality In The Creation Of Electron-Positron Pairs, T Cheng, S P. Bowen, C C. Gerry, Rainer Grobe
Faculty publications – Physics
We examine the mathematical solutions of the Dirac equation to predict the spontaneous electron-positron pair creation from the vacuum. The Dirac equation contains a position and time-dependent scalar potential to approximate the effect of an external force on the vacuum. We focus on forces that are localized in space as well as in time and find that the resulting creation process is also localized in time but delocalized in space. This illustrates that the Dirac equation can show nonlocal behavior as it predicts that particles can be created even in spatial regions where the force is zero. We also examine …
Electric-Field-Induced Relativistic Larmor-Frequency Reduction, P Krekora, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Electric-Field-Induced Relativistic Larmor-Frequency Reduction, P Krekora, Q Su, Rainer Grobe
Faculty publications – Physics
Using the numerical solution to the time-dependent Dirac equation we show that the effect of relativity on the usual Larmor period for an electron in a magnetic field can be enhanced drastically if a suitably scaled and aligned static electric field is added to the interaction. This electric field does not change the electron's speed but leads to an elliptical spin precession due to relativity. This spin precession is accompanied by a position-dependent spin distribution.