Speaker
Prof.
Gerald Dunne
(University of Connecticut)
Description
The prospect of next-generation ultra-high-intensity laser sources has prompted recent renewed study of the Schwinger effect, in which the instability of the QED vacuum is probed by external fields. Experimental observation of this long-sought effect would provide controlled access to non-perturbative processes in quantum field theory under extreme conditions, which is of direct interest in particle physics and astrophysical applications. I review why this is also such an interesting and challenging theoretical problem.
Primary author
Prof.
Gerald Dunne
(University of Connecticut)
