Coulomb effects on electromagnetic pair production in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions

U. Eichmann, J. Reinhardt, S. Schramm, and W. Greiner
Phys. Rev. A 59, 1223 – Published 1 February 1999
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

We calculate the asymptotic high-energy amplitude for electrons scattering at one ion, as well as at two colliding ions, by means of perturbation theory. We show that the interaction with one ion eikonalizes and that the interaction with two ions causally decouples. We are able to put previous results on perturbative grounds and propose further applications for the obtained rules for interactions on the light cone. We discuss the implications of the eikonal amplitude on the pair production probability in ultrarelativistic peripheral heavy-ion collisions. In this context the Weizsäcker-Williams method is shown to be exact in the ultrarelativistic limit, irrespective of the produced particles’ mass. A new equivalent single-photon distribution is derived, which correctly accounts for Coulomb distortions. The impact on single-photon induced processes is discussed.

  • Received 6 July 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.59.1223

©1999 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

U. Eichmann1, J. Reinhardt1, S. Schramm2, and W. Greiner1

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, D-60054 Frankfurt, Germany
  • 2Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung mbH, D-64291 Darmstadt, Germany

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 59, Iss. 2 — February 1999

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review A

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×