1. Particle physics with a laser-driven positronium atom
- Author
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Müller, Carsten, Hatsagortsyan, Karen Z., and Keitel, Christoph H.
- Subjects
- *
NUCLEAR reactions , *PARTICLES (Nuclear physics) , *ELECTRONS , *POSITRONIUM - Abstract
Abstract: A detailed quantum-electrodynamic calculation of muon pair creation in laser-driven electron–positron collisions is presented. The colliding particles stem from a positronium atom exposed to a superintense laser wave of linear polarization, which allows for high luminosity. The threshold laser intensity of this high-energy reaction amounts to a few in the near-infrared frequency range. The muons produced form an ultrarelativistic, strongly collimated beam, which is explicable in terms of a classical simple-man''s model. Our results indicate the experimental feasibility of the process at high positronium densities in counterpropagating laser beams with the help of present-day technology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2008
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