Strong-Field QED and High Power Lasers

Abstract

This contribution presents an overview of fundamental QED processes in the presence of an external field produced by an ultra-intense laser. The discussion focusses on the basic intensity effects on vacuum polarisation and the prospects for their observation. Some historical remarks are added where appropriate.

Comments: 14 pages, 9 figures; plenary talk, Euler-Heisenberg session of QFEXT11, Benasque, Spain, September 18-24, 2011