Schwinger pair creation in Dirac semimetals in the presence of external magnetic and electric fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates Schwinger pair creation in Dirac semimetals under external magnetic and electric fields, highlighting potential experimental observations through transport measurements and estimating its impact on conductivity.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of pair creation rates in Dirac semimetals and connects these phenomena to observable transport properties.

Findings

Pair creation rate remains finite unlike vacuum decay rate.

Estimated contribution to conductivity in Dirac semimetals.

Potential for experimental observation of pair creation effects.

Abstract

We discuss the Schwinger pair creation process for the system of massless Dirac fermions in the presence of constant external magnetic and electric fields. The pair production rate remains finite unlike the vacuum decay rate. In the recently discovered Dirac semimetals, where the massless Dirac fermions emerge, this pair production may be observed experimentally through the transport properties. We estimate its contribution to the ordinary conductivity of the semimetals.