On the Prospect of Studying Nonperturbative QED with Beam-Beam Collisions

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential to experimentally investigate the fully nonperturbative regime of quantum electrodynamics using high-energy electron beam collisions, which could open new research avenues and theoretical developments.

Contribution

It proposes a novel experimental setup with focused electron beams at 100 GeV to access nonperturbative QED, supported by particle-in-cell simulations.

Findings

Feasibility demonstrated through simulations

Potential to explore strong-field QED regimes

Stimulates development of new theoretical methods

Abstract

We demonstrate the possibility of probing for the first time the fully nonperturbative regime of quantum electrodynamics. By using tightly compressed and focused electron beams in a 100 GeV-class particle collider, beamstrahlung radiation losses can be mitigated, allowing the particles to experience extreme electromagnetic fields. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations confirm the viability of this approach. The experimental forefront envisaged has the potential to establish a novel research field and to stimulate the development of a new theoretical methodology for this yet unexplored regime of strong-field quantum electrodynamics.