Phys.org September 28, 2021
After theoretical and computer modeling studies an international team of researchers (France, USA – Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) proposed a scheme to explore regimes of strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SF QED) otherwise unattainable with the currently available laser technology. The scheme relies on relativistic plasma mirrors curved by radiation pressure to boost the intensity of petawatt-class laser pulses by Doppler effect and focus them to extreme field intensities. They showed that very clear SF QED signatures could be observed by placing a secondary target where the boosted beam is focused. This may finally crack the elusive physics behind some of the most extreme phenomena in the universe—gamma ray bursts, pulsar magnetospheres, and more…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Sketch of the scheme proposed in this Letter…Credit: Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 114801,10 September 2021Â