Electron-positron pair creation induced by quantum-mechanical tunneling

Authors

M Jiang, Chinese Academy of Sciences
W Su, China University of Mining and Technology
X Lu, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Z M. Sheng, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Y T. Li, China University of Mining and Technology
J Zhang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Rainer Grobe, Illinois State University
Qichang Su, Illinois State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2011

Keywords

DIRAC-EQUATION, FIELD, PARADOX, Optics, Physics

Abstract

We study the creation of electron-positron pairs from the vacuum induced by two spatially displaced static electric fields. The strength and spatial width of each localized field is less than required for pair creation. If, however, the separation between the fields is less than the quantum-mechanical tunneling length associated with the corresponding quantum scattering system, the system produces a steady flux of electron-positron pairs. We compute the time dependence of the pair-creation probability by solving the Dirac equation numerically for various external field sequences. For the special case of two very narrow fields we provide an analytical expression for the pair-creation rate in the long-time limit.

Comments

Originally published in Physical Review A by the American Physical Society.

Recommended Citation

Jiang, M; Su, W; Lu, X; Sheng, Z M.; Li, Y T.; Zhang, J; Grobe, Rainer; and Su, Qichang, "Electron-positron pair creation induced by quantum-mechanical tunneling" (2011). Faculty publications – Physics. 17.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/fpphys/17