Cherenkov radiation from the quantum vacuum
MacLeod, Alexander J. and Noble, Adam and Jaroszynski, Dino A. (2019) Cherenkov radiation from the quantum vacuum. Physical Review Letters, 122 (16). 161601. ISSN 0031-9007
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Abstract
A charged particle moving through a medium emits Cherenkov radiation when its velocity exceeds the phase velocity of light in that medium. Under the influence of a strong electromagnetic field, quantum fluctuations can become polarized, imbuing the vacuum with an effective anisotropic refractive index and allowing the possibility of Cherenkov radiation from the quantum vacuum. We analyze the properties of this vacuum Cherenkov radiation in strong laser pulses and the magnetic field around a pulsar, finding regimes in which it is the dominant radiation mechanism. This radiation process may be relevant to the excess signals of high energy photons in astrophysical observations.
Creators(s): |
MacLeod, Alexander J., Noble, Adam ![]() ![]() | Item type: | Article |
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ID code: | 67410 |
Keywords: | nonlinear vacuum electrodynamics, Cherenkov radiation, Physics, Physics and Astronomy(all) |
Subjects: | Science > Physics |
Department: | Faculty of Science > Physics |
Depositing user: | Pure Administrator |
Date deposited: | 22 Mar 2019 14:44 |
Last modified: | 21 Jan 2021 10:51 |
URI: | https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/67410 |
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