New Strong-Field QED Effects at ELI: Nonperturbative Vacuum Pair Production

Since the work of Sauter, and Heisenberg, Euler and K\"ockel, it has been understood that vacuum polarization effects in quantum electrodynamics (QED) predict remarkable new phenomena such as light-light scattering and pair production from vacuum. However, these fundamental effects are difficult to probe experimentally because they are very weak, and they are difficult to analyze theoretically because they are highly nonlinear and/or nonperturbative. The Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project offers the possibility of a new window into this largely unexplored world. I review these ideas, along with some new results, explaining why quantum field theorists are so interested in this rapidly developing field of laser science. I concentrate on the theoretical tools that have been developed to analyze nonperturbative vacuum pair production.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures; Key Lecture at the ELI Workshop and School on "Fundamental Physics with Ultra-High Fields", 29 Sept - 2 Oct. 2008, Frauenworth Monastery, Germany; v2: refs updated, English translations of reviews of Nikishov and Ritu

Schwinger Pair Production via Instantons in Strong Electric Fields

In the space-dependent gauge, each mode of the Klein-Gordon equation in a strong electric field takes the form of a time-independent Schr\"{o}dinger equation with a potential barrier. We propose that the single- and multi-instantons of quantum tunneling may be related with the single- and multi-pair production of bosons and the relative probability for the no-pair production is determined by the total tunneling probability via instantons. In the case of a uniform electric field, the instanton interpretation recovers exactly the well-known pair production rate for bosons and when the Pauli blocking is taken into account, it gives the correct fermion production rate. The instanton is used to calculate the pair production rate even in an inhomogeneous electric field. Furthermore, the instanton interpretation confirms the fact that bosons and fermions can not be produced by a static magnetic field only.Comment: RevTex 7 Pages, No figure; Formulae for the production rate in very strong fields and references added; the final version accepted in Phys. Rev.

Relativistic Laser-Matter Interaction and Relativistic Laboratory Astrophysics

The paper is devoted to the prospects of using the laser radiation interaction with plasmas in the laboratory relativistic astrophysics context. We discuss the dimensionless parameters characterizing the processes in the laser and astrophysical plasmas and emphasize a similarity between the laser and astrophysical plasmas in the ultrarelativistic energy limit. In particular, we address basic mechanisms of the charged particle acceleration, the collisionless shock wave and magnetic reconnection and vortex dynamics properties relevant to the problem of ultrarelativistic particle acceleration.Comment: 58 pages, 19 figure

Giant Planet Formation and Migration

© 2018, The Author(s). Planets form in circumstellar discs around young stars. Starting with sub-micron sized dust particles, giant planet formation is all about growing 14 orders of magnitude in size. It has become increasingly clear over the past decades that during all stages of giant planet formation, the building blocks are extremely mobile and can change their semimajor axis by substantial amounts. In this chapter, we aim to give a basic overview of the physical processes thought to govern giant planet formation and migration, and to highlight possible links to water delivery.S.-J. Paardekooper is supported by a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. A. Johansen is supported by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Research Council (grant 2014-5775) and the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant 278675-PEBBLE2PLANET)

Parâmetros biológicos de Bemisia Tabaci (genn.) biótipo B (hemiptera: aleyrodidae) em genótipos de algodoeiro Biological parameters of Bemisia Tabaci B biotype on cotton genotypes

A mosca-branca Bemisia tabaci biótipo B é uma praga de grande importância econômica para muitas culturas em todo o mundo. No Brasil, especialmente no Estado da Bahia, essa praga causou perdas que variam entre 30% e 70% em cultura de algodão. Essa pesquisa foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de avaliar parâmetros biológicos de B. tabaci biótipo B em genótipos de algodoeiro para verificar a possível ocorrência de antibiose como mecanismo de resistência sob condições de casa de vegetação. Os genótipos estudados foram IAC-23, Coodetec 406, BRS Aroeira, Fabrika, Coodetec 407, IAC-24, Makina, IAC 20-233, Coodetec 401 e CNPA Acala I. Foram avaliados os períodos de incubação e ninfal, o desenvolvimento total e a longevidade. Dos genótipos avaliados observou-se em Coodetec 406 maior período ninfal (14,7 dias) e IAC-23 a menor viabilidade de ninfas (30,7%), indicando a ocorrência de resistência do tipo antibiose contra essa mosca-branca.<br>The silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci B biotype is an important pest of many crops throughout the world. In Brazil, specifically in the Bahia State, this insect caused losses estimated to 30-70% on cotton crops. The purpose of this research was to investigate biological parameters of the silverleaf whitefly biotype B in genotype of cotton bush to verify a possible occurrence of antibiosis as resistance mechanism cotton, under greenhouse conditions. The duration of the egg and nymphal stages, and the adult longevity of B. tabaci biotype B were evaluated in the genotypes IAC-23, Coodetec 406, BRS Aroeira, Fabrika, Coodetec 407, IAC-24, Makina, IAC 20-233, Coodetec 401 and CNPA Acala I. Among those evaluated genotypes, Coodetec 406 increased the nymph stage (14.7 days) and IAC-23 reduced the nymphal viability (30.7%), suggesting the occurrence of antibiosis against this whitefly