Speaker
Description
Reaching and exceeding the critical quantum electrodynamics (QED) field strength—the Schwinger limit—remains a central open challenge in modern physics. In this regime, the vacuum becomes unstable with respect to electron–positron pair production, marking the onset of nonperturbative strong-field phenomena. Access to such conditions would establish a qualitatively new domain of laboratory physics with direct implications for high-energy astrophysics and fundamental QED.
We present a concept for generating supercritical electromagnetic fields based on plasma mirrors capable of extreme field compression and amplification beyond current technological limits. This approach is rooted in Einstein’s 1905 formulation of reflection from relativistically moving mirrors and extends prior work of our group. We analyze regimes involving subluminal, luminal, and superluminal plasma mirrors, identifying conditions under which field intensities can approach or exceed the Schwinger threshold. Particular attention is given to magnetized configurations, which are of primary relevance for astrophysical environments.
The talk integrates theoretical models, large-scale numerical simulations, and emerging experimental strategies, outlining a pathway toward the realization of supercritical QED fields in the laboratory.