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

G. Sarri (), K. Poder, J. M. Cole, W. Schumaker, A. Di Piazza, B. Reville, T. Dzelzainis, D. Doria, L. A. Gizzi, G. Grittani, S. Kar, C. H. Keitel, K. Krushelnick, S. Kuschel, S. P. D. Mangles, Z. Najmudin, N. Shukla, L. O. Silva, D. Symes, A. G. R. Thomas, M. Vargas, J. Vieira and M. Zepf
Additional contact information
G. Sarri: School of Mathematics and Physics, The Queen’s University of Belfast
K. Poder: The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London
J. M. Cole: The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London
W. Schumaker: Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan
A. Di Piazza: Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
B. Reville: School of Mathematics and Physics, The Queen’s University of Belfast
T. Dzelzainis: School of Mathematics and Physics, The Queen’s University of Belfast
D. Doria: School of Mathematics and Physics, The Queen’s University of Belfast
L. A. Gizzi: Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
G. Grittani: Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
S. Kar: School of Mathematics and Physics, The Queen’s University of Belfast
C. H. Keitel: Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
K. Krushelnick: Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan
S. Kuschel: Helmholtz Institute Jena
S. P. D. Mangles: The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London
Z. Najmudin: The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London
N. Shukla: GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
L. O. Silva: GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
D. Symes: Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
A. G. R. Thomas: Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan
M. Vargas: Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan
J. Vieira: GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
M. Zepf: School of Mathematics and Physics, The Queen’s University of Belfast

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract 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.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7747

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