Probing QED Vacuum with Heavy Ions
Johann Rafelski, Johannes Kirsch, Berndt M\"uller, Joachim Reinhardt,, and Walter Greiner
TL;DR
This paper reviews the concept of probing the quantum electrodynamics (QED) vacuum using slow heavy-ion collisions, focusing on spontaneous vacuum decay and positron emission in strong fields.
Contribution
It provides a comprehensive review of the theoretical developments and foundational ideas behind using heavy-ion collisions to explore the QED vacuum structure.
Findings
Discussion of spontaneous vacuum decay in heavy-ion collisions
Analysis of observable positron emission as a signature
Review of strong fields QED theoretical progress
Abstract
We recall how nearly half a century ago the proposal was made to explore the structure of the quantum vacuum using slow heavy-ion collisions. Pursuing this topic we review the foundational concept of spontaneous vacuum decay accompanied by observable positron emission in heavy-ion collisions and describe the related theoretical developments in strong fields QED.
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