Possibility of prolific pair production with high-power lasers.

Journal article

Prolific electron-positron pair production is possible at laser intensities approaching 10;{24} W cm;{-2} at a wavelength of 1 mum. An analysis of electron trajectories and interactions at the nodes (B=0) of two counterpropagating, circularly polarized laser beams shows that a cascade of gamma rays and pairs develops. The geometry is generalized qualitatively to linear polarization and laser beams incident on a solid target.

Authors: Bell, A; Kirk, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 101
• Issue: 20
• Pages: 200403
• Publication date: 2008-11-01
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.101.200403
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Language: English