Strong Scalar QED in Inhomogeneous Electromagnetic Fields

摘要

Strong quantum electrodynamics (QED) has attracted attention recently partly because many astrophysical phenomena have been observed to involve electromagnetic fields beyond the critical strength for electron-positron pair production and partly because terrestrial experiments will generate electromagnetic fields above or near the critical strength in the near future. In this talk, we critically review QED phenomena involving strong external electromagnetic fields. Strong QED is characterized by vacuum polarization due to quantum fluctuations and pair production due to the vacuum instability. A canonical method is elaborated for pair production at zero or finite temperature by inhomogeneous electric fields. An algorithm is advanced to calculate the pair-production rate for electric fields acting for finite periods of time, or for electric fields localized in space, or for oscillating electric fields. Finally, strong QED is discussed in astrophysics, in particular, strange stars.