We evidence the existence of plasma oscillations of electron-positron pairs created by the vacuum polarization in an uniform electric field with E less than or similar to E-c. Our general treatment, encompassing also the traditional, well studied case of E > E-c, shows the existence in both cases of a maximum Lorentz factor acquired by electrons and positrons and allows determination of the maximal length of oscillation. We quantitatively estimate how plasma oscillations reduce the rate of pair creation and increase the time scale of the pair production. These results are particularly relevant in view of the experimental progress in approaching the field strengths E less than or similar to E-c. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Vacuum polarization and plasma oscillations / Ruffini, Remo; G. V., Vereshchagin; S. S., Xue. - In: PHYSICS LETTERS A. - ISSN 0375-9601. - 371:5-6(2007), pp. 399-405. [10.1016/j.physleta.2007.06.056]
Vacuum polarization and plasma oscillations
RUFFINI, Remo;
2007
Abstract
We evidence the existence of plasma oscillations of electron-positron pairs created by the vacuum polarization in an uniform electric field with E less than or similar to E-c. Our general treatment, encompassing also the traditional, well studied case of E > E-c, shows the existence in both cases of a maximum Lorentz factor acquired by electrons and positrons and allows determination of the maximal length of oscillation. We quantitatively estimate how plasma oscillations reduce the rate of pair creation and increase the time scale of the pair production. These results are particularly relevant in view of the experimental progress in approaching the field strengths E less than or similar to E-c. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
