worldline instanton method
E553295
The worldline instanton method is a semiclassical technique in quantum field theory that computes nonperturbative pair-production rates by evaluating instanton trajectories in the particle worldline formalism.
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
computational technique in quantum field theory
ⓘ
nonperturbative method ⓘ semiclassical method ⓘ |
| advantage |
captures nonperturbative effects beyond standard perturbation theory
ⓘ
handles space-time dependent background fields ⓘ provides geometric interpretation of pair production ⓘ |
| appliesTo |
inhomogeneous background fields
ⓘ
scalar quantum electrodynamics ⓘ space-dependent electric fields ⓘ spinor quantum electrodynamics ⓘ time-dependent electric fields ⓘ |
| approach |
analytic continuation to Euclidean proper time
ⓘ
search for stationary points of the worldline action ⓘ semiclassical evaluation of worldline path integrals ⓘ |
| basedOn |
instanton calculus
ⓘ
semiclassical approximation ⓘ worldline formalism ⓘ |
| computes |
Schwinger pair production rates
ⓘ
nonperturbative vacuum decay rates ⓘ pair-production rates ⓘ |
| field |
quantum field theory
ⓘ
strong-field quantum electrodynamics ⓘ theoretical high-energy physics ⓘ |
| goal |
approximate prefactors in pair-production rates
ⓘ
evaluate nonperturbative pair creation in external fields ⓘ obtain exponential suppression factors for pair production ⓘ |
| limitation |
accuracy decreases when instanton action is not large
ⓘ
relies on semiclassical approximation ⓘ requires identification of relevant instanton trajectories ⓘ |
| mathematicalObject |
classical worldline instanton solution
ⓘ
functional integral over closed worldlines ⓘ |
| nonperturbativeIn | background field strength ⓘ |
| originatesFrom | worldline representation of the effective action ⓘ |
| perturbativeIn | loop expansion around instanton configuration ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
Schwinger effect
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
instanton method in quantum mechanics ⓘ worldline Monte Carlo methods ⓘ worldline formalism of quantum field theory ⓘ |
| typicalOutput |
exponential factor of the form exp(-S_inst)
ⓘ
pair-production rate as function of field inhomogeneities ⓘ |
| usedFor |
estimating tunneling probabilities in external-field QED
ⓘ
studying dynamically assisted Schwinger pair production ⓘ studying pair production in laser fields ⓘ studying vacuum instability in strong electromagnetic fields ⓘ |
| usesConcept |
Euclidean action
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
closed classical trajectories ⓘ periodic worldline instantons ⓘ saddle-point approximation ⓘ worldline path integral ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.