Abstract
The dynamically assisted pair creation (Schwinger effect) is considered for the superposition of two periodic electric fields acting in a finite time interval. We find a strong enhancement by orders of magnitude caused by a weak field with a frequency being a multitude of the strong-field frequency. The strong low-frequency field leads to shell structures which are lifted by the weaker high-frequency field. The resonance type amplification refers to a new, monotonously increasing mode, often hidden in some strong oscillatory transient background, which disappears during the smoothly switching off the background fields, thus leaving a pronounced residual shell structure in phase space.
Highlights
For many decades the Schwinger effect [1] has been considered crucial for testing non-perturbative QED as a pillar of the standard model of particle physics in the strong-field regime
While the Schwinger effect is originally related to a tunneling process, which escapes the standard perturbative QED described by Feynman diagrams, in the dynamically assisted Schwinger effect [21,22,23] the tunneling is combined with a multi-photon process, potentially enhancing the pair production rate significantly
In the present work we have considered the dynamically assisted Schwinger effect for resonant periodic fields within the framework of the quantum kinetic equation
Summary
For many decades the Schwinger effect [1] has been considered crucial for testing non-perturbative QED as a pillar of the standard model of particle physics in the strong-field regime. While the Schwinger effect is originally related to a tunneling process, which escapes the standard perturbative QED described by Feynman diagrams, in the dynamically assisted Schwinger effect [21,22,23] the tunneling is combined with a multi-photon process, potentially enhancing the pair production rate significantly. It is tempting to investigate the rate enhancement in the superposition of two periodic fields, e.g. as recently done in [27,28] Such a situation seems to be more realistic in respect to a suitable combination of XFEL and optical laser beams. We here rely on numerical solutions of the kinetic equation to elucidate parameter regions where the dynamically assisted Schwinger effect in two periodic fields, which are smoothly switched on and off, leads to a significant enhancement of the rate.
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