Abstract
We compare the effects of timelike, lightlike and spacelike one-dimensional inhomogeneities on the probability of nonperturbative pair production in strong fields. Using interpolating coordinates we give a unifying picture in which the effect of the inhomogeneity is encoded in branch cuts and poles circulated by complex worldline instantons. For spacelike inhomogeneities the length of the cut is related to the existence of critical points, while for lightlike inhomogeneities the cut contracts to a pole and the instantons become contractible to points, leading to simplifications particular to the lightlike case. We calculate the effective action in fields with up to three nonzero components, and investigate its behavior under changes in field dependence.
DOI
10.1103/physrevd.92.065001
Publication Date
2015-09-02
Publication Title
Physical Review D
Volume
92
Issue
6
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
ISSN
1550-2368
Embargo Period
2024-11-22
Recommended Citation
Ilderton, A., Torgrimsson, G., & Wårdh, J. (2015) 'Nonperturbative pair production in interpolating fields', Physical Review D, 92(6). American Physical Society (APS): Available at: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.92.065001
