Top pair creation from positronium in a linearly polarized laser field

R. Chahri1 , S. Mouslih1,2 , M. Jakha1 , B. Manaut1 , S. Taj1, *

1
Polydisciplinary Faculty, Laboratory of Research in Physics and Engineering Sciences,
Team of Modern and Applied Physics, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, 23000, Morocco.
2
Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Laboratoire de l’Ingénierie en Chimie et Physique de la Matière (LICPM),
Beni Mellal, 23000, Morocco.

July 25, 2023

Abstract
In the present paper, we have analytically studied the process of top pair creation from positronium
e− e+ → tt̄, in a linearly polarized laser field, within the framework of the electroweak theory of the Standard
Model. Using the Dirac-Volkov formalization, we have calculated the expression for the laser-assisted total
cross-section σ(e− e+ → tt̄) at the lowest order. We have analyzed the behavior of the individual and
summed laser-assisted total cross-section as a function of the center-of-mass energy of the colliding system
e− e+ , and also as a function of the various laser fields parameters, such as the number of exchanged
photons, the laser field intensity, and frequency. The results obtained suggest that the application of a
linearly polarized laser field significantly improves the total cross-section by several orders of magnitude
compared with that without laser, which is the opposite of the case when a circularly polarized laser field
is applied [1]. In addition, the variation of center-of-mass energy and laser field parameters significantly
influences the multiphoton absorption and emission phenomena.
Keywords: electroweak theory, e− e+ annihilation, top quark pair creation, linear polarization, cross-
section, laser-assisted scattering process.

1 Introduction
The top-quark pair creation is a very significant phenomenon in modern physics. This process involves the
creation of two top quarks, known as the heaviest elementary particles, and their corresponding antiparticles.
The top quark is a particle discovered in 1994 at the Tevatron’s Run I [2]. It is a particle with a short
lifetime 10−26 s and decays essentially into a W boson and a bottom quark. Research into the production
of top quark pairs has far-reaching implications for our understanding of fundamental particles and their
interactions. For this reason, the study of this phenomenon is of the utmost importance in the field of particle
physics. Because of its significant advancements in intensity and duration reduction since its introduction
in 1960, laser technology has attracted much interest from the scientific community [3]. This fascination
stems from the discovery of previously unknown phenomena resulting from the interaction between radiation
and matter, which has improved our understanding of the behavior of high-energy particles and associated
phenomena and the material’s atomic and molecular structure. It is now widely acknowledged that lasers can
change the physical characteristics of unstable particles. Therefore, one of the main ways to learn more about
them and understand the substance’s internal structure is to study the effects of laser fields on the scattering
and decay of high-energy particles. Several researchers have devoted their studies to the process e− e+ → tt̄ in
the absence of an external field. In 1997, I.Mocioiu studied the ”Signature of the anapolar moment of the top
quark in electron-positron collisions” [4], and in 2003, J.Fleischer presented electroweak one-loop corrections
to top pair production in a e− e+ linear collider in his paper ”Electroweak one-loop corrections for e− e+
annihilation into tt̄ including hard bremsstrahlung” [5]. Recently, many studies have focused on circularly
polarized laser-assisted scattering and decay processes, such as ”Laser-Assisted Pion Decay” [6], ”Top-quark
pair production by electron-positron annihilation in a circularly polarized laser field” [1], and the lepton and
* Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected]

1
 2

hadronic decay of the W − boson [7,8]. Notably, in the context of linear polarization, namely, ”New phenomena
in laser-assisted scattering of an electron by a muon” [9], ”Multiphoton processes in laser-assisted scattering
of a muon neutrino by an electron” [10], ”Laser-Assisted Muon Decay” [11] and ”Muon decay in a linearly
polarized laser field” [12]. And also, in the case of elliptical polarization, such as ”Relativistic elastic scattering
of a muon neutrino by an electron in an elliptically polarized laser field” [13], ”Mott scattering in an elliptically
polarized laser field” [14] and ”Laser-Assisted Bremsstrahlung for Circular and Linear Polarization” [15]. This
paper concerns the study of the process of top pair creation from positronium e− e+ → tt̄, at the lowest order,
in the presence of a linearly polarized laser field, within the framework of the electroweak √ theory. The study
compares the behavior of the total cross-section as a function of center-of-mass energy s, with and without
the presence of a laser field. In addition, the
√ study examines the multi-photon process and presents individual
total cross-section results as a function of s. This work aims to explore the impact of the linearly polarized
laser on the summed total cross-section, from a theoretical point of view. To achieve this objective, the √ study
examines the behavior of the summed total cross-section as a function of the center-of-mass energy s and
parameters characterizing the laser field, such as electric field strength, frequency, and number of photons
exchanged.
The article is structured into three main parts. The first part (section (2)) focuses on the detailed analytical
calculation of the total cross-section assisted by a linearly polarized laser. We present the numerical results
for the individual and summed total cross-section in the second part (section (3)). Finally, in the last part
(section (4)), we briefly summarize our conclusions. Throughout our study, we use natural units (ℏ = c = 1),
the Livi-Civita tensor such that ϵ0123 = 1, and the Minkowski metric tensor g µν = diag(1, −1, −1, −1).

2 Theoretical framework
The process of top pair creation from electron-positron annihilation is represented by:
e− (p1 , q1 ) + e+ (p2 , q1 ) → t(k1 ) + t̄(k2 ), (1)
where e− (e+ ) represents an electron (positron) of rest mass me and t(t̄) denotes a quark top (anti-top) of
rest mass mt . The labeled arguments are the associated four-vector momentum. The Feynman diagram
corresponding to this process in the first-order perturbation theory is presented in figure 1. Using Feynman’s

Figure 1: The First-order Feynman diagram for top pair creation from electron-positron annihilation in a
background laser field. The arrows are labeled by the particle’s free momenta (p1,2 , k1,2 ) outside and the
effective momenta (q1,2 ) inside the laser field. The virtual photon and the virtual Z-boson have four-momentum
q.

rules, the couplings between the γ photon and the Z boson with the fermions and quarks are given as follows [16]:
−ig
vertex γe− e+ = −ieγ µ ; vertex Ze− e+ = γ ν (gV e − gAe γ 5 ),
2 cos(θW )
(2)
µ −ig
vertex γtt̄ = −ieQt γ ; vertex Ztt̄ = γ µ (gV t − gAt γ 5 ).
2 cos(θW )
For mathematical simplicity, the laser field is taken to be a monochromatic, plane wave of linear polarization,
with the classical four-potential Aµ given by:
Aµ = aµ cos(ϕ) = εµ |a| cos(k.x) (3)
 3

where the polarization four-vector εµ = (0, 1, 0, 0) is chosen along the x-axis, and k µ = (ω, k) = ω(1, 0, 0, 1) is
the wave four-vector, and |a| denoting the amplitude of the vector-potential. The quadri-vector Aµ satisfies
A2 = −|a|2 cos2 (k.x) = −(ξ0 /ω)2 cos2 (k.x) with ξ0 is the electric field strength and ω is the frequency of the
intense laser, with ε2 = −1. Moreover, the quadri-potential Aµ satisfies the Lorenz gauge condition kµ εµ = 0,
which means that the wave vector k is chosen along the z-axis. The wave function of the relativistic electron
(positron) in an electromagnetic field can be found by solving the Dirac equation with the electromagnetic
potential term present. It was first presented by D. M. Volkov in 1935 [17]:
1
p − eA)2 − m2 − ieFµν σ µν ψe± (x) = 0,

(b (4)
2
where: e = −|e| < 0 is the electron’s electric charge. The laser-dressed states, normalized to volume V , for
the electron and positron are given by:
h e/kA/ i u(p1 , s1 ) iS(q ,x)
ψp1 (x) = 1 + √ e 1 ,
2(k.p1 ) 2Q1 V
/ k i −iS(q ,x) (5)
v̄(p2 , s2 ) h eA/
ψ̄p2 (x) = √ 1− e 2
.
2Q2 V 2(k.p2 )
With
e(a.p1 ) e2 a2
S(q1 , x) = −(q1 .x) − sin(k.x) + sin 2(k.x),
(k.p1 ) 8(k.p1 )
(6)
e(a.p2 ) e2 a2
S(q2 , x) = +(q2 .x) − sin(k.x) − sin 2(k.x).
(k.p2 ) 8(k.p2 )
In Eq.(5), u(p1 , s1 ) and v(p2 , s2 ) are the free Dirac spinors, s1,2 denotes the particle spin, pµi=1,2 = (p0i=1,2 ,
± |pi=1,2 |, 0, 0) is the free four-momentum of the electron and the positron, and qi=1,2 = (Qi=1,2 , qi=1,2 ) is
the four-vector momentum of the electron and the positron inside the laser field. The square of this effective
momentum shows that the mass of the dressed electron and positron (effective mass) is proportional to the
strength of the laser field, as follows:
µ e2 a2
qi=1,2 = pµi=1,2 − kµ ,
4(k.pi=1,2 )
(7)
2 2
2 e a
qi=1,2 = m2e∗ = m2e − .
2
Where me is the mass of the electron, and the quantity me∗ represents the effective mass of the electron in
the linear polarized laser field. The top and anti-top quarks produced are considered free. Therefore, they are
represented by free Dirac wave functions, such as:
ei(k1 .y)
ψ̄k1 (y) = ū(k1 , t1 ) p 0 ,
2k1 V
(8)
1
ψk2 (y) = p 0 v(k2 , t2 ) ei(k2 .y) .
2k2 V
Where u(k1 , t1 ) and v(k2 , t2 ) are the free Dirac spinors, t1,2 denotes the spin of the particle, k1µ = (k10 , |k1 | cos(θ),
|k1 | sin(θ), 0) and k2µ = (k20 , −|k2 | cos(θ), −|k2 | sin(θ), 0) are their free 4-vector momentum, k10 and k20 are their
corresponding energy. In the first Born approximation, the transition matrix element for top quark pair
production is expressed by the following formula:
Z Z nh i h i
Sf i (e− e+ → tt̄) = − i d4 x d4 y ψ̄p2 (x) (−ieγ µ ) ψp1 (x) Gµν γ
(x − y) ψ̄k1 (y) (−ieQt γ ν ) ψk2 (y)
h −ig i
+ ψ̄p2 (x) ( γ µ (gV e − gAe γ 5 )) ψp1 (x) DµνZ
(x − y) (9)
2 cos(θW )
h −ig io
× ψ̄k1 (y) ( γ ν (gV t − gAt γ 5 )) ψk2 (y) ,
2 cos(θW )
 4

1 1
with e and eQt are the charge of electron and quark top, respectively, gV e = − + 2 sin2 (θW ), gAe = − ,
2 2
1 4 1
gV t = − sin2 (θW ) and gAt = [18]. θW is the weak mixing angle and g is the electroweak coupling
2 3 2 √ γ
constant such that g2 /4 cos2 (θW ) = 2GF Mz2 / 2. Gµν Z
(x − y) is the free photon propagator, and Dµν (x − y) is
the propagator of the Z-boson. Their expressions are given by [19]:

d4 q e−iq.(x−y)
Z
γ
Gµν (x − y) = −i × gµν ,
(2π)4 q2
(10)
d4 q e−iq.(x−y)
Z
Z
h qµ qν i
Dµν (x − y) = −i × gµν − .
(2π)4 q 2 − MZ2 + iΓZ MZ MZ2

Where MZ = (91.1876 ± 0.0021) GeV is the rest mass of the Z-boson and ΓZ = (2.4952 ± 0.0023) GeV is the
total decay rate of the Z-boson [20]. By inserting Eqs. (5-6), (8) and (10) into the expression for the S-matrix
element given by Eq.(9), the laser-assisted scattering transition matrix element can be expressed as follows:

e2 Qt d4 q e−iq.(x−y) × ei(k1 +k2 ).y

Z Z Z
Sf i (e− e+ → tt̄) = p d 4
x d 4
y × ei(S(q1 ,x)−S(q2 ,x))
16k10 k20 Q1 Q2 V 4 (2π)4 q2
h h /k i µh
eA/ e/kA / i ih i
× v̄(p2 , s2 ) 1 − γ 1+ u(p1 , s1 ) ū(k1 , t1 ) γµ v(k2 , t2 )
2(k.p2 ) 2(k.p1 )
2
d4 q e−iq.(x−y) × ei(k1 +k2 ).y
Z Z Z
g 4 4 (11)
+ d x d y
(2π)4 q 2 − MZ2 + iΓZ MZ
p
0 0
4 cos2 (θW ) 16k1 k2 Q1 Q2 V 4
h h /k i µ 
eA/ h e/
kA / i
× ei(S(q1 ,x)−S(q2 ,x)) × v̄(p2 , s2 ) 1 − γ gV e − gAe γ 5 1 +
2(k.p2 ) 2(k.p1 )
i qµ qν h ν

5
 i
× u(p1 , s1 ) gµν − ū(k1 , t1 ) γ gV t − gAt γ v(k2 , t2 ) .
MZ2

We apply the following transformation to expand the term S(q1 , x) − S(q2 , x) in Eq. (11):

S(q1 , x) − S(q2 , x) = −(q1 + q2 ).x − η1 sin(k.x) + η2 sin 2(k.x), (12)

where
h (a.p ) (a.p ) i
1 2
η1 = e −
(k.p1 ) (k.p2 )
(13)
e2 a2 h 1 1 i
η2 = + ,
8 (k.p1 ) (k.p2 )

In the next step, we use the standard method of Fourier series expansion, with the generating function of
generalized Bessel functions. The linear combinations of three different quantities, known as the Jacobi-Anger
identity, are given in terms of generalized Bessel functions Bn (η1 , η2 ), such that [21]:
   
 1 
+∞  Bn (η1 , η2 ) 
X
cos(k.x) × e−i η1 sin(k.x)−η2 sin 2(k.x) = B1n (η1 , η2 ) × e−in(k.x) , (14)
sin(k.x) B2n (η1 , η2 )
   
n=−∞

where η1 and η2 are the arguments of the general Bessel function and the integer n in the equation (14), is
the number of photons exchanged between the two particles involved in our scattering process and the laser
field, this number counts the laser photons that are emitted (if n > 0) or absorbed (if n < 0) by the electron
and the positron. The coefficients Bn (η1 , η2 ), B1n (η1 , η2 ) and B2n (η1 , η2 ) are represented by ordinary Bessel
 5

functions as follows [22, 23]:

+∞
X
Bn (η1 , η2 ) = Jn+2l (η1 )Jl (η2 ),
l=−∞
1  (15)
B1n (η1 , η2 ) = Bn−1 (η1 , η2 ) + Bn+1 (η1 , η2 ) ,
2
1 
B2n (η1 , η2 ) = Bn−2 (η1 , η2 ) + 2Bn (η1 , η2 ) + Bn+2 (η1 , η2 ) .
4
Therefore, the laser-assisted scattering transition matrix element becomes the following:
+∞ Z
e2 Qt d4 q ei(k1 +k2 −q).y
X Z Z
Sf i (e− e+ → tt̄) = p d 4
x d 4
y × ei(q−q1 −q2 −nk).x
0 0
16k1 k2 Q1 Q2 V 4 n=−∞ (2π)4 q2
h   i
× v̄(p2 , s2 ) λµ0 Bn (η1 , η2 ) + λµ1 B1n (η1 , η2 ) + λµ2 B2n (η1 , η2 ) u(p1 , s1 )
+∞ Z
g2
h i X Z
4
× ū(k1 , t1 ) γµ v(k2 , t2 ) + p d x d4 y
4 cos2 (θW ) 16k10 k20 Q1 Q2 V 4 n=−∞ (16)
d4 q ei(k1 +k2 −q).y
Z h 
× 2 × e i(q−q1 −q2 −nk).x
× v̄(p2 , s2 ) Λµ0 .Bn (η1 , η2 )
(2π)4 q 2 − MZ + iΓZ MZ
 i qµ qν  h
+ Λµ1 .B1n (η1 , η2 ) + Λµ2 .B2n (η1 , η2 ) u(p1 , s1 ) gµν − × ū(k1 , t1 )
MZ2
  i
× γ ν gV t − gAt γ 5 v(k2 , t2 ) .

where we first performed the integrations over the space-time d4 x and d4 y, then the integral over d4 q. After
some algebraic manipulations, the laser-assisted scattering transition matrix element becomes the following:
n=+∞
X (2π)4 δ 4 (k1 + k2 − q1 − q2 − nk) h i
Sf i (e− e+ → tt̄) = p Mnγ + MnZ , (17)
n=−∞ 16k10 k20 Q1 Q2 V 4

the relativistic 4-momentum transfer in the presence of the laser field is given by q = q1 +q2 +nk. The quantity
Mnγ in Eq.(17) is determined by:

e2 Qt h   i
Mnγ = 2
v̄(p2 , s2 ) λµ0 Bn (η1 , η2 ) + λµ1 B1n (η1 , η2 ) + λµ2 B2n (η1 , η2 ) u(p1 , s1 )
(q1 + q2 + nk) (18)
h i
× ū(k1 , t1 ) γµ v(k2 , t2 ) .

The coefficients in Eq. (18) are given by:

λµ0 = γ µ ,
e e
λµ1 = γ µ k/a
/− /k/γ µ ,
a
2(k.p1 ) 2(k.p2 ) (19)
e2
λµ2 = a2 k µ k/,
2(k.p1 )(k.p2 )
and similarly, the quantity MnZ can be written in the same manner:
g2 1 h 
MnZ = × × v̄(p2 , s2 ) Λµ0 .Bn (η1 , η2 ) + Λµ1 .B1n (η1 , η2 )
4 cos2 (θW ) (q1 + q2 + nk)2 − MZ2 + iΓZ MZ
 ih 
(q1 + q2 + nk)µ (q1 + q2 + nk)ν
+ Λµ2 .B2n (η1 , η2 ) u(p1 , s1 ) ū(k1 , t1 ) γµ gV t − gAt γ 5 − (20)
MZ2
 i
× γ ν gV t − gAt γ 5 v(k2 , t2 ) .


 6

The coefficients in Eq. (20) read:

Λµ0 = γ µ gV e − gAe γ 5 ,

e e
Λµ1 = γ µ gV e − gAe γ 5 k/a /k/γ µ gV e − gAe γ 5 ,



/− a
2(k.p1 ) 2(k.p2 ) (21)
2
e
Λµ2 = a2 k µ k/ gV e − gAe γ 5 .


2(k.p1 )(k.p2 )
From Eq. (17), we obtain the unpolarized differential p cross-section by dividing the square of the S matrix
element |Sf i |2 by the incident particle flux |Jinc | = (q1 .q2 )2 − m4e∗ /(Q1 Q2 V ) and by the time interval of
the observation T , and averaging over the initial spin states, summing over the final spin states, and integrating
over the final momenta:
d3 k1 d3 k2 Nc × |Sf i (e− e+ → tt̄)|2
Z Z
dσ̄(e− e+ → tt̄) = V V , (22)
(2π)3 (2π)3 T |Jinc |

where Nc = 3 is the number of colors, and d3 k1 = |k1 |2 d|k1 |dΩ. Applying the following relation [(2π)4 δ 4 (k1 +
k2 − q1 − q2 − nk)]2 = V T (2π)4 δ 4 (k1 + k2 − q1 − q2 − nk), and simplifying, we obtain:
n=+∞
X dσ̄ n
dσ̄ − +
(e e → tt̄) = (e− e+ → tt̄), (23)
dΩ n=−∞
dΩ

with
dσ¯n − + d|k1 ||k1 |2
Z Z 3
N d k2
(e e → tt̄) = p c ×
dΩ 16(2π) (q1 .q2 )2 − m4e∗
2 k10 k20
(24)
 2
× δ 4 (k1 + k2 − q1 − q2 − nk) × Mnγ + MnZ  .
 

In Eq. (24), it is possible to extend the integral on d3 k2 from three to four dimensions [19] such that:
Z 3 
 1 if k20 > 0 ;
Z
d k2 4 2 2 0 0
= d k2 δ(k2 − mt )Θ(k2 ) ; Θ(k2 ) =  , (25)
2k20 0 if k20 < 0 .
we get

dσ¯n − + Nc
Z
d|k1 ||k1 |2  n 2
(e e → tt̄) = × + Mn
γ Z
k10
p
dΩ
M
8(2π)2 (q1 .q2 )2 − m4e∗ (26)
 
× δ (q1 + q2 + nk − k1 )2 − m2t  ,

k1 +k2 −q1 −q2 −nk=0

and the second integral on d|k1 | can be calculated by applying the well-known formula [24] given by:
Z
f (x) 
dxf (x)δ(H(x)) = . (27)
|H ′ (x)| H(x)=0


finally, the expression of the individual differential cross-section is given by:

dσ¯n − + N |k1 |2 1   2
(e e → tt̄) = p c × 0 × × Mnγ + MnZ  , (28)
  
dΩ 2 2 4 k |H ′ (|k |)|

8(2π) (q1 .q2 ) − me∗ 1 1 H(|k1 |)=0

where, the expression of H(|k1 |) and H ′ (|k1 |) are given such us:
 2
H(|k1 |) = q1 + q2 + nk − k1 − m2t ,
√  r (29)
′
h s 4e2 a2 i |k1 |
H (|k1 |) = −2 nω + 1+ 1− × p ,
2 s |k1 |2 + m2t
 7

 2
with, the term Mnγ + MnZ  appearing in Eq.(28) can be evaluated as follows:
 

 2 1 X X  n 2
Mγ + MnZ  = Mγ + MnZ 
 n  
4 s ,s t ,t
1 2 1 2

e4 Q2t h 
µ µ µ

= T r (p/ − m e ) λ 0 B n (η1 , η2 ) + λ1 B 1n (η 1 , η2 ) + λ 2 B 2n (η 1 , η2 )
4(q1 + q2 + nk)4 2
 i h
ν ∗ ν ∗ ν ∗
× (p /1 + me ) λ̄0 Bn (η1 , η2 ) + λ̄1 B1n (η1 , η2 ) + λ̄2 B2n (η1 , η2 ) × T r (/ k 1 + mt )
i G2F MZ4 h
× γµ (/ k 2 − mt )γν + h 2 i × T r (p /2 − me )
2 (q1 + q2 + nk)2 − MZ2 + Γ2Z MZ2
  
× Λµ0 .Bn (η1 , η2 ) + Λµ1 .B1n (η1 , η2 ) + Λµ2 .B2n (η1 , η2 ) (p ν ∗
/1 + me ) Λ̄0 .Bn (η1 , η2 )
i h 
∗ ∗
+ Λ̄ν1 .B1n (η1 , η2 ) + Λ̄ν2 .B2n k 1 + mt ) γµ gV t − gAt γ 5


(η1 , η2 ) × T r (/
(q1 + q2 + nk)µ (q1 + q2 + nk)ν ν
 
γ gV t − gAt γ 5 k 2 − mt ) γν gV t − gAt γ 5


− 2 (/
MZ
(q1 + q2 + nk)ν (q1 + q2 + nk)µ µ
 i
− 2 γ gV t − gAt γ 5
MZ (30)
e2 Qt GF MZ2 h 
µ
+ √ h i T r (p /2 − me ) λ0 Bn (η1 , η2 )
2
2 2(q1 + q2 + nk) (q1 + q2 + nk) − MZ − iΓZ MZ 2 2

 
+ λµ1 B1n (η1 , η2 ) + λµ2 B2n (η1 , η2 ) (p ν ∗ ν ∗
/1 + me ) Λ̄0 .Bn (η1 , η2 ) + Λ̄1 .B1n (η1 , η2 )
i h 
∗
+ Λ̄ν2 .B2n k 2 − mt ) γν gV t − gAt γ 5


(η1 , η2 ) × T r (/ k 1 + mt ) γµ (/
(q1 + q2 + nk)ν (q1 + q2 + nk)µ µ
i
− 2 γ gV t − gAt γ 5
MZ
e2 Qt GF MZ2 h
+ √ h i × T r (p /2 − me )
2 2(q1 + q2 + nk)2 (q1 + q2 + nk)2 − MZ2 + iΓZ MZ
  
Λµ0 .Bn (η1 , η2 ) + Λµ1 .B1n (η1 , η2 ) + Λµ2 .B2n (η1 , η2 ) (p ν ∗
/1 + me ) λ̄0 Bn (η1 , η2 )
i h 
∗ ∗
+ λ̄ν1 B1n (η1 , η2 ) + λ̄ν2 B2n k 1 + mt ) γµ gV t − gAt γ 5


(η1 , η2 ) × T r (/
(q1 + q2 + nk)µ (q1 + q2 + nk)ν ν 5

 i
− γ gVt − g At γ (/
k 2 − m t ν .
)γ
MZ2
Where
λ̄ν0 = γ ν ,
e e
λ̄ν1 = /k/γ ν −
a γ ν k/a
/,
2(k.p1 ) 2(k.p2 ) (31)
e2
λ̄ν2 = a2 k ν k/.
2(k.p1 )(k.p2 )
And
Λ̄ν0 = γ ν gV e − gAe γ 5 ,

e e
Λ̄ν1 = /k/γ ν gV e − gAe γ 5 − γ ν gV e − gAe γ 5 k/a



a /,
2(k.p1 ) 2(k.p2 ) (32)
e2
Λ̄ν2 = a2 k ν k/ gV e − gAe γ 5 .


2(k.p1 )(k.p2 )
 8

3 Numerical results and discussion

In this part of the research paper, we will discuss, in the center-of-mass framework, the numerical results of
the laser-assisted total cross-section behavior of the process e−√e+ → t t̄ in the presence of a linearly polarized
laser field. The latter depends on the center-of-mass energy s and the laser field parameters (ξ0 , ℏω). We
performed the numerical integration of the differential cross-section which is given by Eq.(28) to derive the
laser-assisted total cross-section, using Simpson’s method. Every σ n (e− e+ → tt̄) represents the individual
total cross-section that describes the scattering process, taking into account the four-momentum conservation
k1 + k2 − q1 − q2 − nk = 0. And by summing over a number of exchanged photons n, we obtain the summed
total cross-section. We will begin our √ discussion by comparing the behavior of the total cross-section of the
process e− e+ → t t̄ as a function of s with and without linearly polarized laser field. Then, by showing
how the individual total√ cross-section varies as a function of the number of exchanged photons n for different
center-of-mass energy s and different laser field parameters (ξ0 , ℏω). Finally, we show how the summed total
cross-section changes as a function of center-of-mass energy and laser field strengths for different numbers
of exchanged photons and different laser frequencies. We note here that the numerical results and figures
presented in this section were obtained using Mathematica software and the traces are calculated by the
FeynCalc package [25, 26]. We should also mention that throughout this work we have adopted the following
numerical values of PDG (Tab.1) [20]:
We start our discussion by checking the validity of our results. To do so, we compared the laser-assisted

Table 1: Numerical values of the physical constants.

Constant Value Constant Value
GF 1.16637 × 10−5 GeV−2 mt 173.0 GeV
gAe −0.50123 me 0.511 GeV
gAt 0.5 MZ 91.1876(21) GeV
gV e −0.03783 ΓZ 2.4952(23) GeV
gV t 0.191 sin2 θW 0.23155(4)

total cross-section, as presented in Eq.(28), we choose the laser parameters as ξ0 = 0 V /cm and n = 0, with
the corresponding total cross-section without laser. Fig.(2) shows the variations of the total cross-section of

0.6 laser-free
with laser (ξ0 =0 V/ cm, n=0)
0.5

0.4
σ [ pb]

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
s [ GeV]

√
Figure 2: Total cross-section variations of the process e− e+ → t t̄ as a function of s with and without
linearly polarized laser field, choosing the laser parameters as ξ0 = 0 V /cm and n = 0.
√
a process e− e+ → t t̄ as a function of s with and without linearly polarized laser field, taking the laser
field parameters as ξ0 = 0 V /cm and n = 0. We observe from Fig.(2) that the total cross-section
√ curves are
indistinguishable because they lead to the same results for each center-of-mass energy s. Thus, when the
 9

laser field parameters are considered zero, the total cross-section in the presence of the laser field converges to
the total cross-section in the absence of a linearly polarized laser field. Therefore, this comparison confirms
the validity of our results. We will now investigate in Fig.(3) the behavior of the individual laser-assisted total
cross-section σ n (e− e+ → √tt̄) given by Eq.(28) as a function of the number of exchanged photons n, taking the
center of mass energy as s = 515 GeV . This phenomenon is called the multi-photon energy transfer which
can give us information on the number of photons limit exchanged between the laser field and the electron-
positron annihilation process. In Fig.3(a), we illustrate the variations of the individual laser-assisted total

ℏ .ω=1.17 eV
a 0.035
b ξ0 =106 V/ cm
0.04 ℏ .ω=2 eV
0.030
ξ0 =2.106 V/ cm

0.025
0.03
σ n[ pb]

σ n[ pb]
0.020

0.02 0.015

0.010
0.01
0.005

0.00 0.000
- 60 - 40 - 20 0 20 40 60 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60
number of exchanged photons n number of exchanged photons n

Figure 3: The individual laser-assisted

√ total cross section σ n (e− e+ → tt̄) as a function of the number of
exchanged photons n, taking s = 515 GeV , The other parameters are: (a) ξ0 = 2 × 106 V /cm and (b)
ℏω = 1.17 eV .

cross-section of the process e− e+ → tt̄ as a function of the number of exchanged photons n, for a fixed laser
field intensity ξ0 = 2×106 V /cm, and for two different laser field frequencies ℏω = 1.17 eV and ℏω = 2 eV . We
see that at low frequencies (ℏω = 1.17 eV ), the number of photons exchanged is large, and the cutoff number
is about n = ±57, compared to high frequencies (ℏω = 2 eV ) where the cutoff number is about n = ±19. In
addition, the magnitude of the individual total cross-section increases depending on the frequency. Therefore,
the multi-photon energy transfer phenomenon between the laser and the electron-positron annihilation process
is related to the properties of the applied laser field. To learn more about this behavior, we have shown in
Fig.3(b) the individual laser-assisted total cross-section as a function of the number of exchanged photons n,
for a given frequency ℏω = 1.17 eV , and for two laser field intensities ξ0 = 106 V /cm and ξ0 = 2 × 106 V /cm.
We observe that the scattering process exchanges a large number of photons with the high-intensity laser
field (ξ0 = 2 × 106 V /cm), where the cutoff number is approximate n = ±57, compared to the low-intensity
laser field (ξ0 = 106 V /cm), where the cutoff number is approximately equal to n = ±28. This implies that
the influence of the laser field on the scattering process is more significant at higher field strengths, i.e., the
scattering system interacts strongly with the intense laser field. In addition, the magnitude of the individual
total cross-section decreases with increasing field intensity. We extend our discussion, by analyzing Fig.(4)
n − +
√ cross-section σ (e e → tt̄) versus the number
which shows the variations of the individual laser-assisted total
of exchanged photons n, at various center-of-mass energies s keeping the laser frequency ℏω = 1.17 eV and
for a fixed laser field strength ξ0 = 2 × 106 V/cm. This figure presents the phenomenon of multiphoton energy
transfer that is similar to the phenomenon seen in Fig.(3), we can also observe that the number of exchanged
photons between the electron-positron √ annihilation process and the laser field remains constant whatever the
value of the center-of-mass energy s by interchanging the same number of photons n = ±57. Furthermore,
the individual laser-assisted total cross-section displays a variation in its order of magnitude as a function of
the center-of-mass energy.
√ At first, this order of magnitude increases as the center-of-mass energy increases,
reaching its peak for s = 515 GeV. Then it decreases as the center-of-mass energy increases.
In the remainder of this paper, we will discuss in Fig.(5) the variations √ of the summed laser-assisted total
cross-section σ(e− e+ → tt̄) as a function of the center of mass energy s, taking the number of exchanged
photons as n = ± 45.
 10

0.025
a s =350 GeV s =600 GeV
b
s =400 GeV s =1000 GeV
0.020
0.020
s =515 GeV s =1500 GeV

0.015 0.015
σ n[ pb]

σ n[ pb]
0.010 0.010

0.005 0.005

0.000 0.000
- 60 - 40 - 20 0 20 40 60 - 60 - 40 - 20 0 20 40 60
number of exchanged photons n number of exchanged photons n

section σ n (e− e+ → tt̄) in terms of the

Figure 4: The variations of the individual laser-assisted total cross √
number of exchanged photons n, at various center-of-mass energy s by taking ℏω = 1.17 eV and ξ0 =
2 × 106 V/cm.

1.2 1.2
laser-free laser-free
a b
ℏ .ω=1.17 eV ξ0 =1.105 V/ cm
1.0 1.0
ℏ .ω=2 eV ξ0 =3.105 V/ cm
0.8 0.8 ξ0 =5.105 V/ cm
σ [ pb]
σ [ pb]

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

0.0 0.0
500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

s [ GeV] s [ GeV]

Figure 5: Variations
√ of the summed laser-assisted total cross-section σ(e− e+ → tt̄) as a function of the center-
of-mass energy s, taking n = ± 45. (a): ξ0 = 1.5×105 V /cm and various laser frequencies; (b): ℏω = 1.17 eV
and various laser field strengths.

In Fig.5(a), by setting the laser field strength at ξ0 = 1.5 × 105 V /cm and varying √ the laser frequency, we
see that the total cross-section
√ increases over a small range of center-of-mass energy s, reaching its maximum
at approximately s = 515 GeV. Beyond this maximum, the total cross-section gradually decreases as the
center-of-mass energy increases. We also observe that the general pattern of the summed laser-assisted total
cross-section remains the same. However, the order of magnitude of √ the summed laser-assisted total cross-
section decreases with increasing laser field frequency. For example, at s = 515 GeV, its value is 1.14261 [pb]
and 0.950491 [pb] for frequencies ℏω = 1.17 eV and ℏω = 2 eV , respectively. In Fig.5(b), by fixing the
laser field frequency at ℏω = 1.17 eV and changing the laser field strength ξ0 , we see that the order of
magnitude of√the summed laser-assisted total cross-section increases as the laser field strength increases. For
example, at s = 515 GeV, its value is 0.922061 [pb], 1.09545 [pb] and 1.15665 [pb] for laser field strengths
ξ0 = 1 × 105 V/cm, ξ0 = 3 × 105 V/cm and ξ0 = 5 × 105 V/cm, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of the
laser field increases with laser field intensity and decreases with frequency. It’s also important to note that
inserting a linearly polarized laser field significantly improves the summed laser-assisted total cross-section by
increasing the laser field strength at an appropriate laser frequency. On the other hand, the application of a
circularly polarized laser field results in a decrease in the summed laser-assisted total cross-section [1].
Let us now turn to the discussion of the behavior of the summed laser-assisted total cross-section
√ σ(e− e+ → tt̄),
in Fig.(6), as a function of laser field strength at various center-of-mass energies s, taking the laser field
frequency ℏω = 1.17 eV and the number of exchanged photons is n = ± 40. Fig.(6) shows that the effect of
 11

a s =600 GeV
1 1
s =1000 GeV
s =1500 GeV
0.5
s =350 GeV
0.5
σ [ pb]

σ [ pb]
s =400 GeV
s =515 GeV
0.2

0.2
0.1

b
4 4 5
5000 1 × 10 4
5 × 10 4
1 × 10 5
5 × 10 5
5000 1 × 10 5 × 10 1 × 10 5 × 105
-1 -1
Laser field strength [ V.cm ] Laser field strength [ V.cm ]

− +
Figure 6: Variations of the summed laser-assisted √ total cross-section σ(e e → tt̄) as a function of the laser
field strength, at various center-of-mass energies s, taking the laser frequency ℏω = 1.17 eV and the number
of exchanged photons n = ± 40.

the laser field on the summed laser-assisted total cross-section is not significant at low intensities. However,
above a threshold value of ξ0 = 3 × 104 V /cm, the latter starts to√increase independently of the center-of-mass
energy. Regarding its dependence on the center-of-mass energy s, we observe the same aspect as illustrated
in figure 5. In other words, the summed √ laser-assisted total cross-section increases over a restricted energy
range, reaching a maximum value at s = 515 GeV in figure 6(a), then decreases as the center-of-mass energy
increases in figure 6(b).
In Fig.(7), we plot the variations of the summed laser-assisted total cross-section σ(e− e+ → tt̄) as a function
√
of laser field strength, for different numbers of exchanged photons n, taking the center-of-mass energy s =
515 GeV. The laser frequency is equal to ℏω = 1.17 eV in Fig.7(a) and ℏω = 2 eV in Fig.7(b). Regardless

1.2 laser-free a laser-free

1.0 b
-40≤n≤+40 -40≤n≤+40
-100≤n≤+100 -100≤n≤+100
1.0 -200≤n≤+200 0.9 -200≤n≤+200

0.8
σ [ pb]

σ [ pb]

0.8

0.7

0.6 0.6

5000 1 × 104 5 × 104 1 × 105 5 × 105 5000 1 × 104 5 × 104 1 × 105 5 × 105
-1 -1
Laser field strength [ V.cm ] Laser field strength [ V.cm ]

Figure 7: Summed laser-assisted total cross-section σ(e− e+ → tt̄) in √

terms of laser field strength, for various
numbers of exchanged photons n, taking the center-of-mass energy s = 515 GeV. The laser frequency is
equal to ℏω = 1.17 eV in (a) and ℏω = 2 eV in (b).

of the number of exchanged photons n, it should be noted that both figures have the same appearance.
Regarding the dependence on laser field strength, it’s worth mentioning that the summed laser-assisted total
cross-section coincides with the laser-free total cross-section at low intensities, making it independent of laser
field strength. Furthermore, as the laser field strength ξ0 increases, the summed laser-assisted total cross-
section increases progressively. This phenomenon occurs when the laser field strength exceeds a threshold
 12

value equal to ξ0 = 3 × 104 V/cm in Fig.7(a) and ξ0 = 1 × 105 V/cm in Fig.7(b).

Finally, using the number of exchanged photons, n = ±45, we show in Fig.(8) the behavior of the summed laser-
assisted total cross-section σ(e− e+ → tt̄) as
√ a function of laser field strength
√ ξ0 for different laser frequencies.
In Fig.8(a), the center-of-mass energy is s = 350 GeV and in Fig.8(b), s = 515 GeV. From Fig.(8), we

laser-free 1.2 laser-free b

a
ℏ ω=1.17 eV ℏ ω=1.17 eV
0.14
ℏ ω=2 eV ℏ ω=2 eV
1.0
0.12

σ [ pb]
σ [ pb]

0.10 0.8

0.08
0.6

4 4 5 5
5000 1 × 10 5 × 10 1 × 10 5 × 10 5000 1 × 104 5 × 104 1 × 105 5 × 105
-1 -1
Laser field strength [ V.cm ] Laser field strength [ V.cm ]

Figure 8: Summed laser-assisted total cross-section σ(e− e+ → tt̄) as a function of laser field strength, for
different √ √ number of exchanged photons n = ±45. the center-of-mass energy is
laser frequencies, taking the
equal to s = 350 GeV in (a) and s = 515 GeV in (b).

can see that the summed laser-assisted total cross-section remains constant and equal to the laser-free total
cross-section, in the range of laser field strengths lower than a threshold strength equal to ξ0 = 3×104 V/cm for
ℏω = 1.17 eV (Nd:YAG laser) and ξ0 = 1×105 V/cm for ℏω = 2 eV (He:Ne laser). Above this threshold value,
we find that the summed total cross-section assisted by the laser field increases progressively with the laser
field strength, which is consistent with the results obtained previously in Fig.5(b). In addition, considering
its dependence on the laser field frequency, we can deduce the same observations presented in Fig.5(a), which
indicate that the summed total cross-section assisted by the laser field decreases with increasing laser field
frequency. Furthermore, the summed laser-assisted total cross-section in the case of linear polarization is
enhanced compared with that without laser, while it is reduced in the case of circular polarization [1].

4 Conclusion
In this paper, we have analytically investigated the process of top pair creation from positronium e− e+ → tt̄
in a linearly polarized laser field, within the framework of the electroweak theory of the Standard Model, at
lowest order. We have presented analytically and numerically the behavior of the individual laser-assisted total
cross-section σ n (e− e+ → tt̄) as a function of
√ the number of exchanged photons n for different laser field param-
eters (ξ0 , ℏω) and center-of-mass energies s. We found that laser field parameters and center-of-mass energy
significantly modify the multiphoton phenomenon. Next, we demonstrate how the summed laser-assisted to-
tal cross-section varies as a function of center-of-mass energy and laser field strength for different numbers
of exchanged photons and laser frequencies. Consequently, the application of a linearly polarized laser field
significantly enhances the summed total cross-section σ(e− e+ → tt̄) compared with the total cross-section
without laser. The results provided, in particular the improvement of the total cross-section, need to be tested
experimentally to meet the needs of the scientific community in the future. This must be done in parallel with
the rapid development of laser technology currently observed.
 13

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