Multichannel interference in nonperturbative multiphoton pair production by gamma rays colliding

Abstract

The electron-positron pair production in the collision of two intense gamma lasers is studied beyond the dipole approximation. The complete electron/positron momentum spectrum obtained by three-dimensional computation shows directly the multiphoton pair production channels and provides a sensitive test on the widely used concept of the effective mass. Nonperturbative features are identified in the dependence of the total yield on the field intensity. In particular, various breaks in the momentum rings are observed and prove to be a manifestation of a particle's energy gaps in the standing light wave induced by the Kapitza-Dirac scattering. A theoretical model of multilevel systems coupled by the Kapitza-Dirac scattering and pair production channels is established. Multichannel interference effects and pair production suppression are revealed in these systems.