Creation dynamics of bound States in supercritical fields

Area of Science:

• Quantum Field Theory
• Particle Physics
• Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

Background:

• Electron-positron pair creation from vacuum is a key phenomenon in quantum field theory.
• Understanding pair production dynamics is crucial for high-energy physics and astrophysics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the time-dependent electron-positron pair creation process from vacuum.
• To investigate the long-time regime involving multiple pair production.
• To characterize the distinct regimes of pair production for a supercritical potential.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing space-time resolved solutions of relativistic quantum field theory.
• Analyzing the long-time behavior of pair production.
• Correlating the time dependence of the production rate with spatial particle density.

Main Results:

• Identified four distinct time-dependent regimes for pair production from a supercritical potential of finite extension.
• Observed direct counterparts between the production rate regimes and the time-evolved spatial particle density.
• Characterized regimes including shape-invariant birth, entanglement-induced interference reduction, recurrent Pauli suppression via electron-potential scattering, and a production halt.

Conclusions:

• The dynamics of vacuum pair production are complex and exhibit distinct, identifiable stages.
• Electron-potential scattering and bound state populations significantly influence pair production dynamics.
• Relativistic quantum field theory provides a framework to describe these intricate multi-pair production processes.