Nanophotonics for pair production
Fuente:
arXiv
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2023
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| _version_ | 1866909798735282176 |
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| author | Di Giulio, Valerio de Abajo, F. Javier García |
| author_facet | Di Giulio, Valerio de Abajo, F. Javier García |
| contents | The transformation of electromagnetic energy into matter represents a fascinating prediction of relativistic quantum electrodynamics that is paradigmatically exemplified by the creation of electron-positron pairs out of light. However, this phenomenon has a very low probability, so positron sources rely instead on beta decay, which demands elaborate monochromatization and trapping schemes to achieve high-quality beams. Here, we propose to use intense, strongly confined optical near fields supported by a nanostructured material in combination with high-energy photons to create electron-positron pairs. Specifically, we show that the interaction between near-threshold gamma-rays and polaritons yields higher pair-production cross sections, largely exceeding those associated with free-space photons. Our work opens an unexplored avenue toward generating tunable pulsed positrons at the intersection between particle physics and nanophotonics. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2301_07377 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Nanophotonics for pair production Di Giulio, Valerio de Abajo, F. Javier García Optics Other Condensed Matter The transformation of electromagnetic energy into matter represents a fascinating prediction of relativistic quantum electrodynamics that is paradigmatically exemplified by the creation of electron-positron pairs out of light. However, this phenomenon has a very low probability, so positron sources rely instead on beta decay, which demands elaborate monochromatization and trapping schemes to achieve high-quality beams. Here, we propose to use intense, strongly confined optical near fields supported by a nanostructured material in combination with high-energy photons to create electron-positron pairs. Specifically, we show that the interaction between near-threshold gamma-rays and polaritons yields higher pair-production cross sections, largely exceeding those associated with free-space photons. Our work opens an unexplored avenue toward generating tunable pulsed positrons at the intersection between particle physics and nanophotonics. |
| title | Nanophotonics for pair production |
| topic | Optics Other Condensed Matter |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.07377 |