Abstract
We study the probability distribution of the number of particle and antiparticle pairs produced via the Schwinger effect when a uniform but time-dependent electric field is applied to noninteracting scalars or spinors initially at a thermodynamic equilibrium. We derive the formula for the characteristic function by employing techniques in mesoscopic physics, reflecting a close analogy between the Schwinger effect and mesoscopic tunneling transports. In particular, we find that the pair production in a medium is enhanced (suppressed) for scalars (spinors) due to the Bose stimulation (Pauli blocking). Furthermore, in addition to the production of accelerated pairs by the electric field, the annihilation of decelerated pairs is found to take place in a medium. Our formula allows us to extract the probability distributions in various situations, such as those obeying the generalized trinomial statistics for spin-momentum resolved counting and the bidirectional Poisson statistics for spin-momentum unresolved counting.
Highlights
Together with earlier suggestions by Sauter, Heisenberg, and Euler [1,2], Schwinger in 1951 predicted that pairs of electron and positron are produced out of a vacuum subjected to an external electric field [3]
This phenomenon is known as the Schwinger effect, which is a manifestation of the fact that the quantum vacuum is no longer a classical empty space but undergoes virtual pair excitations, being the Copernican revolution of our view on the vacuum
The Schwinger effect constitutes one of the most significant predictions of quantum electrodynamics, its experimental observation has been elusive because the mean number of produced pairs is exponentially suppressed if the electric field is below the critical strength set by the electron mass
Summary
Together with earlier suggestions by Sauter, Heisenberg, and Euler [1,2], Schwinger in 1951 predicted that pairs of electron and positron are produced out of a vacuum subjected to an external electric field [3]. This phenomenon is known as the Schwinger effect, which is a manifestation of the fact that the quantum vacuum is no longer a classical empty space but undergoes virtual pair excitations, being the Copernican revolution of our view on the vacuum. Because the Schwinger effect can be viewed as a quantum tunneling phenomenon [12], common techniques can be employed to derive the formula for full counting statistics, which reflects a close analogy between the Schwinger effect and mesoscopic tunneling transports
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
