Possible instability of the vacuum in a strong magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper explores whether extremely strong magnetic fields, such as those near neutron stars, can decay via electron-positron pair production, concluding that decay occurs through many-body states rather than single pairs.

Contribution

It demonstrates that magnetic field decay involves many-body electron-positron states due to mutual magnetic interactions, unlike the electric case.

Findings

Single pair production is not possible in strong magnetic fields.

Decay involves many-body electron-positron states.

Mutual magnetic interactions are crucial in the decay process.

Abstract

The possibility that a static magnetic field may decay through production of electron positron pairs is studied. The conclusion is that this decay cannot happen through production of single pairs, as in the electric case, but only through the production of a many-body state, since the mutual magnetic interactions of the created pairs play a relevant role. The investigation is made in view of the proposed existence of huge magnetic field strengths around some kind of neutron stars.