Horizons of Strong Field Physics

TL;DR

This paper explores the limits of classical and quantum electrodynamics using high-intensity laser-electron interactions, proposing new experimental avenues to test fundamental physics principles and the structure of the vacuum.

Contribution

It introduces the potential of current laser technology to probe the boundaries of electrodynamics and suggests new experiments for testing Mach's principle and quantum vacuum properties.

Findings

Laser-electron collisions reach fields near the limits of Lorentz force validity.

Potential to experimentally test Mach's principle with high-intensity lasers.

Laser-induced pair production opens new research directions in quantum electrodynamics.

Abstract

Discussing the limitations on the validity of classical electrodynamics, we show that present day laser pulse technology applied to head-on-collisions with relativistic electrons generates fields strong enough to permit experimentation at the limits of validity of the Lorentz force, and the development of experimental tests of Mach's principle. We also discuss more distant opportunities for exploring the nature of laws of physics and the vacuum structure. We then conclude that the predictions of quantum electrodynamics in the presence of critical fields are not completely satisfactory and argue that the study of Laser materialization into particle pairs opens a new domain of quantum electrodynamics.