Probing QED Vacuum with Heavy Ions

Abstract

We recall how nearly half a century ago the proposal was made to explore the structure of the quantum vacuum using slow heavy-ion collisions. Pursuing this topic we review the foundational concept of spontaneous vacuum decay accompanied by observable positron emission in heavy-ion collisions and describe the related theoretical developments in strong fields QED.

arXiv comment40 pages, Presented by JR at the International Symposium on"New Horizons in Fundamental Physics: From Neutrons Nuclei via Superheavy Elements and Supercritical Fields to Neutron Stars and Cosmic Rays," held to honor Walter Greiner on his 80th birthday at Makutsi Safari Farm, South Africa, November 23-29, 2015

References in corpus (6)

• QED and relativistic corrections in superheavy elements
• The second-order electron self-energy in hydrogen-like ions
• Universal Charge-Radius Relation for Subatomic and Astrophysical Compact Objects
• Probing the quantum vacuum with ultra intense laser pulses
• New Results on e+e- Line Emission in U+Ta Collisions
• Positron spectra from internal pair conversion observed in {238}U + {181}Ta collisions

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• Essentially non-perturbative and peculiar polarization effects in planar QED with strong coupling
• Ground state of superheavy elements with $120\le Z\le 170$: systematic study of the electron-correlation, Breit, and QED effects
• Influence of a cosmic string on the rate of pairs produced by the Coulomb potential
• Particle production at a finite potential step: Transition from Euler-Heisenberg to Klein paradox
• Electron EM-mass melting in strong fields
• Radioactive beams and inverse kinematics: probing the quantal texture of the nuclear vacuum