Nonadiabatic quantum kinetic equations and Dirac-Heisenberg-Wigner formalism for Schwinger pair production in time-varying electric fields with multiple components

Abstract: The nonadiabatic quantum kinetic equations and Dirac-Heisenberg-Wigner formalism for Schwinger pair production in a spatially uniform and time-varying electric field with multiple components are derived and proven to be equivalent. The relation between nonadiabatic and adiabatic quantum kinetic equations is also established. By analyzing the time evolution of the distribution functions of particles created in a circularly polarized Gaussian pulse field with a subcycle structure, it is found that the nonadiabatic and adiabatic distribution functions are the same after the field, with a sufficient number of oscillation cycles, fades away. However, during the presence of the field, the two distribution functions typically differ. Nonetheless, the time evolution characteristics of the nonadiabatic and adiabatic momentum distributions are similar. For instance, the number of spirals is one less than the number of photons absorbed in both cases. Furthermore, for a rapidly oscillating electric field, the nonadiabatic quantum kinetic approaches may provide a more meaningful description of pair production at intermediate times. These findings deepen our understanding of the nonadiabatic quantum kinetic approaches and their application in pair production.