From theory to precision modelling of strong-field QED in the transition regime

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in modeling strong-field QED processes, focusing on achieving high-precision predictions for experiments involving intense lasers and energetic electron beams in the transition regime.

Contribution

It introduces new modeling techniques to accurately simulate strong-field QED phenomena, bridging theoretical results with numerical simulations for experimental precision.

Findings

Predicted signals for nonlinear Compton scattering and Breit-Wheeler processes.

Error estimates for simulation accuracy at different intensity parameters.

Guidelines for transitioning from plane wave QED results to numerical models.

Abstract

The combination of energetic electron beams, delivered from conventional accelerators at a high repetition rate, and ultraintense lasers, makes it possible to perform precision measurements of strong-field QED. The LUXE collaboration aims to perform precision measurements of nonlinear Compton scattering and Breit-Wheeler pair creation in the transition from the perturbative to nonperturbative regimes. Here we present an overview of recent developments in the modelling of strong-field QED processes, which are needed to reach the required precision of a few percent for intensity parameters $0.1 < \xi < 10$. We discuss how to go from plane wave QED results to numerical simulations and present predicted signals and error estimates.