Pair production in counter-propagating laser beams
نویسنده
چکیده
Based on an analysis of a specific electron trajectory in counterpropagating beams, Bell & Kirk (PRL 101, 200403 (2008)) recently suggested that laboratory lasers may shortly be able to produce significant numbers of electronpositron pairs. We confirm their results using an improved treatment of nonlinear Compton scattering in the laser beams. Implementing an algorithm that integrates classical electron trajectories, we then examine a wide range of laser pulse shapes and polarizations. We find that counter-propagating, linearly polarized beams, with either aligned or crossed orientation, are likely to initiate a pair avalanche at intensities of approximately 10 Wcm per beam. The same result is found by modelling one of the beams as a wave reflected at the surface of an overdense solid. PACS numbers: 12.20.-m, 52.27.Ep, 52.38.Ph Submitted to: Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion
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