Timing of pair production in time-dependent force fields

Authors

Christopher C. Gerry, Lehman College, The City University of New York
Q Su, Illinois State University
Rainer Grobe, Illinois State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2006

Keywords

NEAR-THRESHOLD PHOTODETACHMENT, HEAVY-ION COLLISIONS, KLEIN PARADOX, CAPTURE, PHYSICS, VACUUM, Optics

Abstract

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.

Comments

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

Recommended Citation

Gerry, Christopher C.; Su, Q; and Grobe, Rainer, "Timing of pair production in time-dependent force fields" (2006). Faculty publications – Physics. 37.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/fpphys/37