Static electric fields of strength 1016 V/cm2 can indeed facilitate the production of electron-positron pairs. This process does not involve any additional energy release; rather, the energy required for pair production is derived from the electric field itself. The discussion clarifies that while the electric field can create particles from a vacuum-like state, it does not create them from "nothingness," as energy conservation principles are upheld.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, students of quantum mechanics, and researchers interested in high-energy particle interactions will benefit from this discussion on electron-positron pair production and the underlying principles of electric fields.
But if you need no energy to maintain electrostatic field, in principle, and this field creates positrons and electrons from ''nothingless'' and these positrons have real energy and could annihilate with something releasing gamma rays, wouldn't it mean we received energy from physical vacuum?Simon Bridge said:You can get pair production from a static electric field.
The process is not associated with any additional energy release.
i.e.
http://arxiv.org/abs/1112.4120
For fields so strong that you get pair production you do need energy to maintain them. Otherwise the produced charges will weaken it over time (as electrons go to the positive side and positrons go to the negative side).Stanley514 said:But if you need no energy to maintain electrostatic field
... the field does not make positrons and electrons out of "nothingness" nor out of "physical vacuum". As you point out, if it did, then energy would not be conserved.this field creates positrons and electrons from ''nothingness"