Radiation from polarized vacuum in a laser-particle collision

TL;DR

This paper investigates how vacuum polarization affects photon emission in high-energy proton-laser collisions, revealing significant spectral modifications that could enable laboratory observation of vacuum polarization effects.

Contribution

It demonstrates that vacuum polarization can notably alter photon emission spectra in proton-laser collisions at current and future laser intensities, providing a new experimental avenue.

Findings

Emission spectra peak is enhanced by 30% for 700 GeV protons.

Emission spectra peak is suppressed by 65% for 6.5 TeV protons.

Vacuum polarization effects are observable with next-generation lasers.

Abstract

The probability of photon emission of a charged particle traversing a strong field becomes modified if vacuum polarization is considered. This feature is important for fundamental quantum electrodynamics processes present in extreme astrophysical environments and can be studied in a collision of a charged particle with a strong laser field. We show that for today's available 700 GeV (6.5 TeV) protons and the field provided by the next generation of lasers, the emission spectra peak is enhanced due to vacuum polarization effect by 30% (suppressed by 65%) in comparison to the traditionally considered Compton process. This striking phenomenon offers a novel path to the laboratory-based manifestation of vacuum polarization.