Journal Article

Generation of neutral and high-density electron–positron pair plasmas in the laboratory

Poder, K., Shukla, N., Keitel, C. H., Vieira, J., Thomas, A. G. R., Gizzi, L. A., Grittani, G., Reville, B., Najmudin, Z., Kuschel, S., Doria, D., Symes, D., Vargas, M., Krushelnick, K., Mangles, S. P. D., Dzelzainis, T., Silva, L. O., Cole, J. M., Schumaker, W., Zepf, M., Sarri, G., Di Piazza, A., Kar, S.

2015

Overview

Electron–positron pair plasmas represent a unique state of matter, whereby there exists an intrinsic and complete symmetry between negatively charged (matter) and positively charged (antimatter) particles. These plasmas play a fundamental role in the dynamics of ultra-massive astrophysical objects and are believed to be associated with the emission of ultra-bright gamma-ray bursts. Despite extensive theoretical modelling, our knowledge of this state of matter is still speculative, owing to the extreme difficulty in recreating neutral matter–antimatter plasmas in the laboratory. Here we show that, by using a compact laser-driven setup, ion-free electron–positron plasmas with unique characteristics can be produced. Their charge neutrality (same amount of matter and antimatter), high-density and small divergence finally open up the possibility of studying electron–positron plasmas in controlled laboratory experiments. Electron–positron pair plasma—a state of matter with a complete symmetry between negatively and positively charged particles—are found in many astrophysical object. Here, the authors use high-power laser to create an ion-free electron–positron plasma in the laboratory.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Pub. Group
• Subject: 639/766/1960/1134 / 639/766/419/1131 / Electrons / Gamma rays / Humanities and Social Sciences / Laboratories / Lasers / multidisciplinary / Plasma / Positrons / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Symmetry