Abstract
Besides tunneling in static potential landscapes, for example, the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approach is a powerful nonperturbative approximation tool to study particle creation due to time-dependent background fields, such as cosmological particle production or the Sauter-Schwinger effect, i.e., electron-positron pair creation in a strong electric field. However, our understanding of particle creation processes in background fields depending on both space and time is rather incomplete. In order to venture into this direction, we propose a generalization of the WKB method to truly spacetime-dependent fields and apply it to the case of a spacetime-dependent mass.
Highlights
Particle creation out of the vacuum due to extreme external influences is an intriguing effect and a fundamental prediction of quantum field theory
Our understanding of particle creation processes in background fields depending on both space and time is rather incomplete
In order to venture into this direction, we propose a generalization of the WKB method to truly spacetime-dependent fields and apply it to the case of a spacetime-dependent mass
Summary
Particle creation out of the vacuum due to extreme external influences is an intriguing effect and a fundamental prediction of quantum field theory. This is even possible for slowly varying electric fields (as long as they are strong enough) Note that this process is different from pair creation in the (perturbative) multiphoton regime which requires sufficiently fast varying electromagnetic fields; see, e.g., [4]. Nonperturbative pair production due to an external field is far more difficult to observe in nature and not nearly as well understood on the theoretical side These effects were first considered more than half a century ago, our understanding of these effects is still far from complete. We study electron-positron pair creation due to a spacetime-dependent mass mðt; xÞ in the Dirac equation.
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
