Finding Quantum Processes in Strongly Relativistic Fields
Abstract
In its 2003 report “Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos” the National Research Council identified “11 science questions for the new century”. Ultra-intense lasers can address several of these questions, one of the most direct interest being: “Is a New Theory of Matter and Light needed at the Highest Energies [and intensities]?” The answer is yes, as there currently is no unified, systematic quantum field theory to describe quantum and classical dynamics in the presence of strong classical potentials, including determining the Parton distribution function, modeling the transition of colliding hadrons to a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP), describing particle creation in the vicinity of a black hole, and electron dynamics, radiation emission and pair creation in the magnetic field of a neutron star or the EM field of an ultra-intense laser. In the first funding period, we achieved several scientific and technical breakthroughs that allow us for the first time the systematic experimental study of this new regime. These include focusing of the Texas Petawatt Laser to an unprecedented intensity of ~3 x 10^22 W/cm2; the production of ?-rays from solid targets excited at relativistic intensity [Tiw16]; the interaction of a counter-propagating relativistic laser field with GeV electrons [Sha16; and the demonstration of a relativistically dented F/1 plasma mirrors at I~10^19 W/cm2 [Tsa16]. The development of this unique experimental capability allows, for the first time, controlled experiments crossing the threshold into the ultra-relativistic and quantum regimes of light matter interaction. We also developed an effective quantum field theory to describe quantum effects in strong classical potentials that goes beyond the known limitations of the semi classical approximation and already predicts ~50% corrections for intensities reachable by the Texas Petawatt laser [Heg16].
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2017
- Source ID
- FA95501710264
Entities
People
- Bjorn Hegelich
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Texas at Austin