Spin polarized electron-positron pair production via elliptical polarized laser fields

Abstract

We study nonperturbative multiphoton electron-positron pair creation in ultrastrong electromagnetic fields formed by two counterpropagating pulses with elliptic polarization. Our numerical approach allows us to take into account the temporal as well as the spatial variation of the standing electromagnetic field. The spin and momentum resolved pair creation probabilities feature characteristic Rabi oscillations and resonance spectra. Therefore, each laser frequency features a specific momentum distribution of the created particles. We find that, depending on the relative polarization of both pulses, the created electrons may be spin polarized along the direction of field propagation.