High-intensity scaling in UV-modified QED

Abstract

QED perturbation theory in a background field has been conjectured to break down for sufficiently high field intensity. The high-intensity behavior of a field theory is however intertwined with its high-energy (UV) behavior. Here we show that a UV modification of QED changes the high-intensity behaviour of observables. Specifically we study non-linear Compton scattering in a constant crossed field in QED with an additional Pauli term. In the UV modified theory the cross section exhibits a faster power-law scaling with intensity than in ordinary QED.

Comments: v2: typos corrected, some clarifications made; version accepted for publication