On the Schwinger limit attainability with extreme power lasers

TL;DR

This paper investigates how laser polarization affects electron-positron plasma creation and the attainment of the Schwinger limit, highlighting the role of radiation friction and avalanche development in different polarization states.

Contribution

It demonstrates the influence of electromagnetic wave polarization on radiation effects and plasma development, providing insights into reaching the Schwinger limit with extreme power lasers.

Findings

Circular polarization enhances radiation friction effects.

Linear polarization results in weaker radiation effects.

Polarization impacts the development of electron-positron avalanches.

Abstract

Circularly polarized colliding laser pulses can create abundant electron-positron pair plasma [A. R. Bell and J. G. Kirk, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 200403 (2008)], which scattering the incoming electromagnetic waves can prevent them from reaching the critical field of Quantum Electrodynamics causing vacuum breakdown and polarization. It is shown that the effects of radiation friction and the electron-positron avalanche development depend on the electromagnetic wave polarization. For circularly polarized colliding pulses, which force the electrons to move in circles, these effects dominate not only the particle motion but also the evolution of the pulses. While for linearly polarized pulses, where the electrons (positrons) oscillate along the electric field, these effects are not as strong. There is an apparent analogy of these cases with circular and linear electron accelerators with the corresponding constraining and reduced roles of synchrotron radiation losses.