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arXiv · 1110.5499

Momentum dependence in the dynamically assisted Sauter-Schwinger effect

Christian Fey·Ralf Schützhold
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Abstract

Recently it has been found that the superposition of a strong and slow electric field with a weaker and faster pulse can significantly enhance the probability for non-perturbative electron-positron pair creation out of the vacuum -- the dynamically assisted Sauter-Schwinger effect. Via the WKB method, we estimate the momentum dependence of the pair creation probability and compare it to existing numerical results. Besides the theoretical interest, a better understanding of this pair creation mechanism should be helpful for the planned experiments aiming at its detection.

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Christian Fey, Ralf Schützhold. 2012-01-09. Momentum dependence in the dynamically assisted Sauter-Schwinger effect. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.85.025004

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