# QED Phenomena in an Ultrastrong Magnetic Field. I. Electron-Photon Scattering, Pair Creation, and Annihilation

## TL;DR

This paper analyzes how extremely strong magnetic fields, exceeding the quantum critical field, modify fundamental electrodynamic processes like scattering and pair creation, providing formulas relevant for modeling neutron star environments.

## Contribution

It presents new relativistic formulas for electron-photon interactions and pair processes in ultra-strong magnetic fields, extending previous work to higher field regimes.

## Key findings

- Derived compact formulas for cross sections and rates.
- Identified the impact of magnetic field strength on process dominance.
- Compared results with earlier calculations where applicable.

## Abstract

We evaluate several basic electrodynamic processes as modified by the presence of a very strong magnetic field, exceeding $B_{\rm Q} \equiv m^2/e = 4.4\times 10^{13}$ G. These results are needed to build models of dissipative phenomena outside magnetars and some other neutron stars. Differential and total cross sections and rates are presented for electron-photon scattering, the annihilation of an electron-positron pair into two photons, the inverse process of two-photon pair creation, and single-photon pair creation into the lowest Landau state. The relative importance of these interactions changes as the background magnetic field grows in strength. The particle phase space relevant for a given process may be restricted by single-photon pair creation, which also opens up efficient channels for pair multiplication, e.g. in combination with scattering. Our results are presented in the form of compact formulae that allow for relativistic electron (positron) motion, in the regime where Landau excitations can be neglected (corresponding to $10^3B_{\rm Q} \gg B \gg B_{\rm Q}$ for moderately relativistic motion along the magnetic field). Where a direct comparison is possible, our results are tested against earlier calculations, and a brief astrophysical context is provided. A companion paper considers electron-positron scattering, scattering of electrons and positrons by ions, and relativistic electron-ion bremsstrahlung.