Estimates of electron-positron pair production in the interaction of high-power laser radiation with high-Z targets

Electron-positron production processes occurring in the interaction of 10¹⁸–10²⁰ W/cm² laser radiation with high-Z targets are examined. Computational results are presented for the pair production and the positron yield from the target with allowance for the contribution of pair production processes due to electrons and bremsstrahlung photons. Monte Carlo simulations using the PRIZMA code confirm the estimates obtained. The possible positron yield from high-Z targets irradiated with 10²–10³ TW laser radiation is estimated to be 10⁹–10¹¹. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 4, 239–244 (25 February 1998)