Electron dynamics and γ and e(-)e(+) production by colliding laser pulses.

Area of Science:

• High-intensity laser-matter interactions
• Quantum electrodynamics in extreme conditions

Background:

• Investigating electron bunch behavior under intense laser fields is crucial for understanding high-energy phenomena.
• Photon emission and electron-positron pair production are key processes in extreme light-matter interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To study the dynamics of an electron bunch irradiated by two focused colliding super-intense laser pulses.
• To analyze the resulting gamma ($\gamma$) and electron-positron ($e^{-}e^{+}$) pair production.
• To identify conditions for cascade development and $\gamma e^{-}e^{+}$ plasma creation.

Main Methods:

• Simulation of electron bunch dynamics under colliding laser pulses.
• Analysis of photon emission and pair production rates.
• Parameter dependence study on laser intensity and wavelength.

Main Results:

• Electron dynamics exhibit attractors in the standing wave formed by colliding pulses.
• Photon emission and pair production are generally more efficient with linearly polarized laser pulses compared to circularly polarized ones.
• Key parameters influencing cascade development were identified based on laser intensity and wavelength.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates the role of laser polarization in enhancing photon emission and pair production.
• Attractors in electron dynamics play a significant role in the efficiency of these processes.
• Conditions for creating $\gamma e^{-}e^{+}$ plasma through laser-driven cascades are established.