Probing nonperturbative QED with optimally focused laser pulses

Abstract

We study nonperturbative pair production in intense, focused laser fields called e-dipole pulses. We address the conditions required, such as the quality of the vacuum, for reaching high intensities without initiating beam-depleting cascades, the number of pairs which can be created, and experimental detection of the created pairs. We find that e-dipole pulses offer an optimal method of investigating nonperturbative QED.

5 pages, 2 pdf figures. Version 2: extended discussion of cascades, references updated. To appear in PRL