Assisted dynamical Schwinger effect: pair production in a pulsed bifrequent field

TL;DR

This paper investigates how combining two laser pulses of different frequencies can enhance electron-positron pair production via the dynamical Schwinger effect, especially when the high-frequency component approaches the Compton wavelength.

Contribution

It demonstrates the amplification of pair production in a bifrequent laser field using a non-perturbative kinetic equation approach, highlighting the role of wavelength proximity to the Compton scale.

Findings

Pair production amplifies with certain laser parameters.

Residual pair density depends on the combined field strength.

Rapid growth occurs when high-frequency wavelength nears the Compton wavelength.

Abstract

Electron-positron pair production by the superposition of two laser pulses with different frequencies and amplitudes is analyzed as a particular realization of the assisted dynamic Schwinger effect. It is demonstrated that, within a non-perturbative kinetic equation framework, an amplification effect is conceivable for certain parameters. When both pulses have wavelengths longer than the Compton wavelength, the residual net density of produced pairs is determined by the resultant field strength. The number of pairs starts to grow rapidly if the wavelength of the high-frequency laser component gets close to the Compton wavelength.