Pair production by Schwinger and Breit-Wheeler processes in bi-frequent fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates pair production mechanisms in bi-frequent laser fields, focusing on the Schwinger and Breit-Wheeler processes, and explores their feasibility with high-intensity laser and XFEL beam configurations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of pair production in bi-frequent fields, combining Schwinger and Breit-Wheeler processes, with implications for experimental realization.

Findings

Enhanced pair production via dynamical assistance in high-frequency fields

Feasibility analysis of light-to-matter conversion in bi-frequent laser setups

Potential experimental configurations for observing these processes

Abstract

Counter-propagating and suitably polarized light (laser) beams can provide conditions for pair production. Here, we consider in more detail the following two situations: (i) In the homogeneity regions of anti-nodes of linearly polarized ultra-high intensity laser beams, the Schwinger process is dynamically assisted by a second high-frequency field, e.g. by a XFEL beam. (ii) A high-energy probe photon beam colliding with a superposition of co-propagating intense laser and XFEL beams gives rise to the laser assisted Breit-Wheeler process. Prospects of such bi-frequent field constellations with respect to the feasibility of conversion of light into matter are discussed.