Modelling strong-field quantum electrodynamics effects in plasma

Under extreme conditions that can be found around dense stars and in the accretion discs of black holes, it is possibleto create matter and anti-matter from the vacuum (Schwinger mechanism).

This phenomenon was presented theoretically a century ago but has never been verified in experiments due to the difficulty of creating the required extreme conditions in the lab.

However, with the development of laser facilities in the past decades, it will be possible to observe several extreme physical phenomena (including the Schwinger mechanism) in near future.

To conduct experiments of these extreme phenomena, theoretical simulations need to be constructed as a guide for optimizing experiments.

The aim of this project is to develop simulations that will serve as a virtual scenario of how the experiments should be conducted.

These simulations will model upcoming laser beam experiments at SLAC in the U.S. and guide the development of future quantum plasma studies. Furthermore, the data from the experiment will be compared with the data from the simulations.

A close collaboration with the collaborators at SLAC will allow me to benchmark my simulations using the developed technology at SLAC. The results from this project will lead to important scientific advances.

This includesa) Determining the requirements for a facility that can access the QED-plasma regime.b) Guide the design of upcoming laser-plasma experiments.c) Advance our understanding of extreme astrophysical environments.