Abstract
Electron–positron pair production in space- and time-dependent electromagnetic fields is investigated. Especially, the influence of a time-dependent, inhomogeneous magnetic field on the particle momenta and the total particle yield is analyzed for the first time. The role of the Lorentz invariant E2−B2, including its sign and local values, in the pair creation process is emphasized.
Highlights
Already predicted in the first half of the last century [1] electron-positron pair production attracted renewed attention over the last decade
We have focused on the influence of the magnetic field on the pair production process for a special class of vector potentials
We have found that for this kind of potentials the magnetic field is of minor importance for a wide range of parameter sets thereby validating studies which have been performed so far
Summary
Already predicted in the first half of the last century [1] electron-positron pair production attracted renewed attention over the last decade. The clarification of potential, currently unknown phenomena associated with time-dependent magnetic fields is one of the required steps if theoretical results on Schwinger pair production shall be put to the scrutiny of experiment. Among worldline [23, 24] and WKB-like formalism [25], the introduction of quantum kinetic theory [26] has helped to understand pair production in homogeneous, but time-dependent electric fields.
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