Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 223, 1093-1104 (2014)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2014-02160-8

Review

Probing the quantum vacuum with ultra intense laser pulses

¹ Department of Physics, University of Texas, Austin, TX
² IZEST, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France
³ Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Received: 13 March 2014
Revised: 24 March 2014
Published online: 4 June 2014

Abstract

This article presents 1) The theoretical background of strong field physics along with vacuum structure and stability; 2) The instrumental developments in the area of pulsed lasers and considers the physics case for the construction of ultra-intense laser facilities; and 3) The applied and fundamental uses of ultra-intense lasers.