Dominance of γ-γ electron-positron pair creation in a plasma driven by high-intensity lasers

Dominance of γ-γ electron-positron pair creation in a plasma driven by high-intensity lasers

Creation of electrons and positrons from light alone is a basic prediction of quantum electrodynamics, but yet to be observed. Our simulations show that the required conditions are achievable using a high-intensity two-beam laser facility and an advanced target design. Dual laser irradiation of a st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communications physics Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
Main Authors: He, Yutong, Blackburn, Thomas G., Toncian, Toma, Arefiev, Alexey V.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 17-06-2021
Nature Publishing Group
Nature Portfolio
Subjects:
639/624/1020/1088
639/766/1960/1135
639/766/419
cascades
collision
field
Fysik
High power lasers
Lasers
light
Luminous intensity
particles
photon-emission
Physical Sciences
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Positrons
Pulse propagation
Quantum electrodynamics
Simulation
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Summary:Creation of electrons and positrons from light alone is a basic prediction of quantum electrodynamics, but yet to be observed. Our simulations show that the required conditions are achievable using a high-intensity two-beam laser facility and an advanced target design. Dual laser irradiation of a structured target produces high-density γ rays that then create > 10 8 positrons at intensities of 2 × 10 22  Wcm −2 . The unique feature of this setup is that the pair creation is primarily driven by the linear Breit-Wheeler process ( γ γ  →  e + e − ), which dominates over the nonlinear Breit-Wheeler and Bethe-Heitler processes. The favorable scaling with laser intensity of the linear process prompts reconsideration of its neglect in simulation studies and also permits positron jet formation at experimentally feasible intensities. Simulations show that the positrons, confined by a quasistatic plasma magnetic field, may be accelerated by the lasers to energies >200 MeV. Electron-positron pair generation from nonlinear quantum electrodynamics is predicted at high intensities that are, so far, beyond experimental capabilities. Here, simulations predict a high yield of positrons can be obtained from gamma-gamma photon collisions in the linear regime, using counter-propagating pulses and a microstructured target.
ISSN:2399-3650
2399-3650
DOI:10.1038/s42005-021-00636-x