Dynamically assisted Schwinger mechanism in spatially separated electric fields

We investigate the Schwinger pair production in combined electric fields using quantum field theoretical simulations, where static and oscillating electric fields are finitely extended and spatially separated. We find that the pair production can be dynamically assisted until the two fields are separated much farther than one Compton length. We show the signature of dynamical assistance, in the position of both static and oscillating fields, based on the position-based production rate. Moreover, we investigate the impact of spatial width on dynamical assistance to show that the production rate is suppressed when the width of any of the two fields exceeds one Compton length and potential heights are constant.

Automated summary

We investigate Schwinger pair production in combined electric fields using quantum field theoretical simulations, where static and oscillating electric fields are finitely extended and spatially separated. We find that the pair production can be dynamically assisted until the two fields are separated much farther than one Compton length. We show the signature of dynamical assistance, based on the position-based production rate, in the position of both static and oscillating fields. Moreover, we investigate the impact of spatial width on dynamical assistance and show that the production rate is suppressed when the width of either field exceeds one Compton length and the potential heights are constant.