A cascade of $e^-e^+$ pair production by a photon with subsequent annihilation to a single photon in a strong magnetic field

Abstract

The process of electron-positron pair production by a photon with subsequent annihilation to a single photon in a strong magnetic field has been studied. The general amplitude has been calculated and the process rate have been found in the low Landau levels approximation (resonant and nonresonant cases). The comparison of resonant and nonresonant cases shows a significant excess of the resonant rate. The polarization of the final photon in a strong magnetic field has also been found. It has been shown that polarizations of the initial and the final photons are independent except for the case of normal linear polarization of the initial photon.