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  • Letter
  • Open Access

Self-triggered strong-field QED collisions in laser-plasma interaction

Aimé Matheron1,*, Igor Andriyash1, Xavier Davoine2,3, Laurent Gremillet2,3, Mattys Pouyez4, Mickael Grech5, Livia Lancia5, Kim Ta Phuoc6, and Sébastien Corde1,7,†

  • *Contact author: aime.matheron@polytechnique.edu
  • †Contact author: sebastien.corde@polytechnique.edu
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, L032011 – Published 8 July, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L032011

Abstract

Exploring quantum electrodynamics in the most extreme conditions, where electron-positron pairs can emerge in the presence of a strong background field, is now becoming possible in Compton collisions between ultraintense lasers and energetic electrons. In the strong-field regime, the colliding electron emits γ rays that decay into pairs in the strong laser field. While the combination of conventional accelerators and lasers of sufficient power poses significant challenges, laser-plasma accelerators offer a promising alternative for producing the required multi-GeV electron beams. To overcome the complexities of colliding these beams with another ultraintense laser pulse, we propose a scheme in which a single laser pulse both accelerates the electrons and collides with them after self-focusing in a dedicated plasma section and reflecting off a plasma mirror. The laser intensity boost in the plasma allows the quantum interaction parameter to be greatly increased. Using full-scale numerical simulations, we demonstrate that a single 100J laser pulse can achieve a deep quantum regime with electric fields in the electron rest frame as high as χe∼5 times the Schwinger critical field, resulting in the production of about 40 pC of positrons.

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, L032011– Published 8 July, 2025
  • Received 28 August 2024
  • Accepted 8 April 2025
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