Experimental investigation of strong field trident production


Esberg J., Kirsebom K., Knudsen H., Thomsen H. D., Uggerhoj E., Uggerhoj U. I., ...More

PHYSICAL REVIEW D, vol.82, no.7, 2010 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 82 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1103/physrevd.82.072002
  • Journal Name: PHYSICAL REVIEW D
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We show by experiment that an electron impinging on an electric field that is of critical magnitude in its rest frame, may produce an electron-positron pair. Our measurements address higher-order QED, using the strong electric fields obtainable along particular crystallographic directions in single crystals. For the amorphous material our data are in good agreement with theory, whereas a discrepancy with theory on the magnitude of the trident enhancement is found in the precisely aligned case where the strong electric field acts.