Spin polarized electron-positron pair production via elliptical polarized laser fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates nonperturbative electron-positron pair creation in ultrastrong, elliptically polarized laser fields, revealing spin polarization effects and resonance behaviors through detailed numerical simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical approach that accounts for both temporal and spatial variations in the standing electromagnetic field, highlighting polarization-dependent spin polarization of created electrons.

Findings

Spin polarization of electrons depends on laser pulse polarization.

Resonance spectra and Rabi oscillations characterize pair creation.

Momentum distributions vary with laser frequency and polarization.

Abstract

We study nonperturbative multiphoton electron-positron pair creation in ultrastrong electromagnetic fields formed by two counterpropagating pulses with elliptic polarization. Our numerical approach allows us to take into account the temporal as well as the spatial variation of the standing electromagnetic field. The spin and momentum resolved pair creation probabilities feature characteristic Rabi oscillations and resonance spectra. Therefore, each laser frequency features a specific momentum distribution of the created particles. We find that, depending on the relative polarization of both pulses, the created electrons may be spin polarized along the direction of field propagation.