Electron-positron pair production by ultrarelativistic electrons in a soft photon field

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (27) References (11) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Electron-Positron Pair Production by Ultrarelativistic Electrons in a Soft Photon Field Mastichiadis, A. ; Marscher, A. P. ; Brecher, K. Abstract The fully differential cross section for photon-electron pair production is integrated numerically over phase space. Results are obtained for the astrophysically interesting case in which the interaction between an ultrarelativistic electron and a soft photon results in electron-positron pair production. The positron spectrum is a function of the energies of both the photon and the electron, as well as the angle of interaction. It is found that the energy at which the positron distribution peaks is inversely proportional to the photon energy and independent of the electron energy. The positron spectrum is integrated once more over initial electron energies for a power-law energy distribution of primary electrons. The same procedure is repeated for the recoil particle; it is shown that the peak of the recoil energy distribution depends linearly on the energy of the primary electron. Finally, semianalytical expressions are obtained for the energy losses of the primary electrons. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: January 1986 DOI: 10.1086/163792 Bibcode: 1986ApJ...300..178M Keywords: Computational Astrophysics; Electron-Positron Pairs; Pair Production; Photon-Electron Interaction; Relativistic Electron Beams; Electron Energy; Energy Dissipation; Energy Distribution; Gamma Rays; Positrons; Astrophysics; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; GAMMA RAYS: GENERAL; RADIATION MECHANISMS full text sources ADS |