Electron-laser vacuum breakdown in head-on collision of relativistic electrons with intense laser pulse

TL;DR

This paper presents an analytical model for electron-positron pair production during head-on collisions of relativistic electrons with intense laser pulses, predicting high multiplicities and deep nonlinear QED effects at upcoming laser facilities.

Contribution

The paper derives an analytical expression for particle production in electron-laser vacuum breakdown using a generalized Heitler model, aligning with previous estimates and extending predictions for future experiments.

Findings

Good agreement with previous estimates

Potential for high particle multiplicity at future facilities

Deep nonlinear QED regime achievable with current lasers

Abstract

The phenomenon of electron-laser vacuum breakdown is the multiple cascade production of electron-positron pairs in head-on collision of a beam of relativistic electrons with an intense laser pulse. This effect was first predicted by the author in 1996 [1] and further developed in [2]. In the present paper, an analytical expression for the total number of produced particles is obtained using the generalized Heitler model. The model results are shown to be in good agreement with the estimates of the pioneering works. An analysis of modern laser facilities (ELI, XCELS, European XFEL, Russian projects) is carried out and estimates of the expected effects are given. At ELI and XCELS class facilities, the quantum nonlinearity parameter can reach 60--150, corresponding to the deeply nonlinear QED regime with multiplicity up to 100 particles per seed electron. Experimental confirmation of the effect is expected in the coming years.