Positron production in collision of heavy nuclei

TL;DR

This paper investigates the electromagnetic production of positrons during heavy nuclei collisions, highlighting a process with a significantly higher cross-section than electron-positron pair creation.

Contribution

It introduces a dominant positron production mechanism in heavy nuclei collisions with a cross-section much larger than standard pair production.

Findings

Positron production cross-section exceeds that of $e^+ e^-$ production by about four orders of magnitude.

Electron capture by one nucleus occurs simultaneously with positron emission.

The process is significant in understanding electromagnetic interactions in heavy nuclei collisions.

Abstract

We consider the electromagnetic production of positron in collision of heavy nuclei, with the simultaneously produced electron captured by one of the nuclei. This cross-section exceeds by about four orders of magnitude the cross-section of $e^+ e^-$ production.