Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics (한국광학회지)

Optical Society of Korea (한국광학회)
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Exploring Strong-field Quantum Electrodynamics with Ultra-intense Lasers

초강력 레이저를 이용한 강력장 양자전기역학 연구

  • Chul Min Kim (Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science) ;
  • Jae Hee Sung (Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science)
  • 김철민 (기초과학연구원 상대론적레이저과학연구단) ;
  • 성재희 (기초과학연구원 상대론적레이저과학연구단)
  • Received : 2025.10.27
  • Accepted : 2025.11.24
  • Published : 2025.12.25
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Abstract

Recent progress in ultra-intense laser technology has enabled laboratory exploration of strong-field quantum electrodynamics (QED) phenomena that may occur in extreme astrophysical environments, such as neutron stars, gamma-ray bursts, and black holes. In this study, we report an experimental demonstration of nonlinear Compton scattering, which is one of the fundamental strong-field QED processes, using a 4.2-PW Ti:sapphire laser. A multi-GeV electron beam accelerated by the ultra-intense laser interacted with a tightly focused laser pulse, resulting in a simultaneous net absorption of hundreds of photons and their conversion into a single gamma-ray photon with energies up to several hundred MeV. These results provide direct experimental evidence of nonlinear interactions between an ultra-intense laser field and a relativistic electron beam, confirming entry into the strong-field QED regime. This achievement opens the way for future studies on strong-field QED phenomena, including nonlinear Breit-Wheeler pair production and QED plasma formation.

최근 초강력 레이저 기술의 발달로 강력한 빛과 물질의 상호작용 구현이 가능해지면서, 중성자별, 감마선 폭발, 블랙홀과 같은 극한 천체 환경에서 발생하는 강력장 양자전기역학 현상의 실험적 탐구가 가능해졌다. 본 총설논문에서는 4.2 PW 초강력 레이저를 이용하여 강력장 양자전기역학의 가장 기본적인 현상인 비선형 콤프턴 산란을 실험적으로 검증한 연구에 대해 해설하였다. 초강력 레이저에 의해 가속된 수 GeV 수준의 고에너지 전자가 강하게 집속된 초강력 레이저 펄스와 상호작용하여 수백 개의 광자를 동시에 순흡수하고, 이를 수백 MeV 수준의 단일감마선 광자로 변환시키는 비선형 콤프턴 산란 현상이 실험적으로 관측되었다. 이 결과는 초강력 레이저를 기반으로 한 광학적 실험 체계를 사용하여 초강력 레이저장과 상대론적 전자빔 간의 비선형 상호작용이 명확히 입증됨을 시사하고, 향후 비선형 브라이트-휠러 쌍생성 및 양자전기역학 플라즈마 형성과 같은 극한의 강력장 양자전기역학 현상을 탐구할 수 있는 기반을 마련하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

기초과학연구원 사업(Grant no. IBS-R038-D1); 광주과학기술원 극초단광양자빔운영사업(140011).

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