Effective mass signatures in multiphoton pair production

Understand

Electron-positron pair production in oscillating electric fields is investigated in the nonperturbative threshold regime.

• Accurate numerical solutions of quantum kinetic theory for corresponding observables are presented and analyzed in terms of a proposed model for an effective mass of electrons and positrons acquired within the given strong electric field.
• Although this effective mass cannot provide an exact description of the collective interaction of a charged particle with the strong field, physical observables are identified which carry direct and sensitive signatures of the effective mass.