Quadrupole radiation and e+e− pair production in the collision of nonrelativistic nuclei

Abstract

We analyze the one-photon mechanism of e+e− pair production in the collision of nonrelativistic nuclei. The contribution of electric quadrupole radiation of virtual photon to the corresponding cross section is found. The effect of the finite nuclear size is considered in detail. A comparison is made with the contribution of electric dipole radiation of virtual photon and with the contribution of the two-photon pair production mechanism. It is shown that the contribution of electric quadrupole radiation is dominant in a wide range of relative velocities. The cross section for the production of e+e− pair with the capture of an electron by one of the nuclei is also analyzed.