Quantum regime of laser-matter interactions at extreme intensities

Abstract

A survey of physical parameters and of a ladder of various regimes of laser-matter interactions at extreme intensities is given. Special emphases is made on three selected topics: (i) qualitative derivation of the scalings for probability rates of the basic processes; (ii) self-sustained cascades (which may dominate at the intensity levels attainable with next generation laser facilities); and (iii) possibility of breaking down the Intense Field QED approach for ultrarelativistic electrons and high-energy photons at certain intensity level.

To be published in the Proceedings of the Summer School "Quantum Field Theory at the Limits: from Strong Fields to Heavy Quarks" (18-30 July 2016, BLTP, JINR, Dubna, Russia)