Vacuum polarization and plasma oscillations

We evidence the existence of plasma oscillations of electron–positron pairs created by the vacuum polarization in an uniform electric field with E≲EcE≲Ec. Our general treatment, encompassing also the traditional, well studied case of E>EcE>Ec, shows the existence in both cases of a maximum Lorentz factor acquired by electrons and positrons and allows determination of the maximal length of oscillation. We quantitatively estimate how plasma oscillations reduce the rate of pair creation and increase the time scale of the pair production. These results are particularly relevant in view of the experimental progress in approaching the field strengths E≲EcE≲Ec.