Towards Laboratory Electron-Positron Plasma via Electromagnetic Showers

Explore the cutting-edge research on creating electron-positron plasma in laboratory settings through electromagnetic showers in this 28-minute conference talk. Learn about the fundamental challenges in understanding extreme plasma physics around relativistic astrophysical objects like black holes and neutron stars, where traditional plasma processes operate under conditions involving relativistic, radiative, and quantum electrodynamics (QED) effects. Discover how laboratory studies could provide crucial insights into phenomena such as magnetic reconnection and shock formation in these extreme environments. Examine the connection between laboratory plasma physics and recent astronomical observations, including black hole imaging at event-horizon scales and Fast Radio Bursts. Understand the interdisciplinary approach required to advance this field, bringing together expertise from high-energy astrophysics, plasma theory, computational physics, and experimental laser-plasma research. Gain insights into the potential for novel experimental approaches that could bridge the gap between laboratory conditions and the extreme plasma environments found in the most exotic objects in the universe.