The role of photon polarization modes in the magnetization and instability of the vacuum in a supercritical field

TL;DR

This paper investigates how photon polarization modes influence vacuum magnetization and instability in supercritical electromagnetic fields, highlighting the role of vacuum polarization effects and birefringence in extreme conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of vacuum polarization eigenmodes' impact on vacuum magnetization and instability under supercritical fields, considering both magnetic and electric cases.

Findings

Vacuum polarization eigenmodes significantly contribute to vacuum magnetization.

Superstrong electric fields can induce photon creation with different propagation modes.

Vacuum birefringence is linked to photon emission in extreme fields.

Abstract

The response of the QED vacuum in an asymptotically large electromagnetic field is studied. In this regime the vacuum energy is strongly influenced by the vacuum polarization effect. The possible interaction between the virtual electromagnetic radiation and a superstrong magnetic field suggests that a background of virtual photons is a source of magnetization to the whole vacuum. The corresponding contribution to the vacuum magnetization density is determined by considering the individual contribution of each vacuum polarization eigenmode in the Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian. Additional issues concerning the transverse pressures are analyzed. We also study the case in which the vacuum is occupied by a superstrong electric field. It is discussed that, in addition to the electron-positron pairs, the vacuum could create photons with different propagation modes. The possible relation between the emission of photons and the birefringent character of the vacuum is shown as well.