Laser-induced proton decay

TL;DR

This paper explores how intense circularly polarized laser fields can induce proton decay into neutrons, positrons, and neutrinos, a process impossible in vacuum, by calculating decay rates and lifetimes near the Schwinger limit.

Contribution

It demonstrates that high-intensity laser fields enable proton decay, providing a theoretical framework for understanding this process under extreme electromagnetic conditions.

Findings

Proton decay becomes possible in strong laser fields near the Schwinger limit.

Decay rates and proton lifetimes are comparable to neutron lifetimes under certain conditions.

Laser strength requirements depend on the laser source used.

Abstract

In this research paper, we investigate the decay of the proton into neutron, positron and electron neutrino in the presence of an external electromagnetic field with circular polarization. Different physical quantities related to this decay process, such as proton's decay rate and its lifetime, are calculated based on the S-matrix approach. The proton and positron are treated as Dirac-Volkov states, while the neutron and electron neutrino are free-states. We have found that, though it can not occur in vacuum, the proton's decay process into neutron, positron and electron neutrino becomes possible in the presence of laser field with high intensities near or close to the Schwinger limit. In addition, near this limit and for some frequencies, the proton's lifetime can be comparable to that of the neutron, and the required laser strength, from which this decay becomes possible, depends on the chosen laser source.