High-Energy Recollision Processes of Laser-Generated Electron-Positron Pairs

Sebastian Meuren, Karen Z. Hatsagortsyan, Christoph H. Keitel, and Antonino Di Piazza
Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 143201 – Published 9 April 2015

Abstract

Two oppositely charged particles created within a microscopic space-time region can be separated, accelerated over a much larger distance, and brought to a recollision by a laser field. Consequently, new reactions become feasible, where the energy absorbed by the particles is efficiently released. By investigating the laser-dressed polarization operator, we identify a new contribution describing high-energy recollisions experienced by an electron-positron pair generated by pure light when a gamma photon impinges on an intense, linearly polarized laser pulse. The energy absorbed in the recollision process over the macroscopic laser wavelength corresponds to a large number of laser photons and can be exploited to prime high-energy reactions. Thus, the recollision contribution to the polarization operator differs qualitatively and quantitatively from the well-known one, describing the annihilation of an electron-positron pair within the microscopic formation region.

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  • Received 1 July 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.143201

© 2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Sebastian Meuren*, Karen Z. Hatsagortsyan, Christoph H. Keitel, and Antonino Di Piazza§

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany

  • *s.meuren@mpi-hd.mpg.de
  • k.hatsagortsyan@mpi-hd.mpg.de
  • keitel@mpi-hd.mpg.de
  • §dipiazza@mpi-hd.mpg.de

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Vol. 114, Iss. 14 — 10 April 2015

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