Momentum dependence in the dynamically assisted Sauter-Schwinger effect

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the momentum of electron-positron pairs affects the dynamically assisted Sauter-Schwinger effect, using the WKB method to estimate probabilities and compare with numerical results, aiding experimental detection.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of momentum dependence in the effect, enhancing understanding beyond previous numerical studies.

Findings

WKB estimates align with numerical results

Momentum dependence significantly influences pair creation probability

Insights support experimental efforts to detect the effect

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.