  Matter/antimatter (MAM) pair production from the vacuum through intense
electric fields has been investigated theoretically for nearly a century. This
history is reviewed and proposals of MAM for intra-solar system and
interstellar propulsion systems are examined. The quantum mechanical foundation
of MAM production was developed by MAM production occurs when the electric
field strength is above the critical value at which the fields become
non-linear with self-interactions (known as the Schwinger limit).MAM production
occurs when the electric field strength is above the critical value at which
the fields become non-linear with self-interactions (known as the Schwinger
limit). As the energy density of lasers approach the critical strength of 10^16
V/cm, the feasibility and functionality of electron-positron pair production
has received growing interest. Current laser intensities are approaching within
1 order of magnitude of the Schwinger limit. Processes for lowering the
critical energy density below the Schwinger limit through additional quantum
mechanical effects have been explored. One under study at the U. of Connecticut
and the U. of Duisburg-Essen is pulsation of inhomogeneous electric fields
within a carrier wave. Another is via enhancement of quantum effects by
addition of a magnetic field parallel to the electric field. Magnetic field
enhancement to quark/anti-quark production through chiral symmetry breaking
effects in QCD was considered by J. Preskill in the 1980's. S. Pyo and D. Page
showed in 2007 that parallel magnetic fields enhance electron/positron
production via an analogous QED effect. MAM production as a highly efficient
fuel source for intra solar system and interstellar propulsion was proposed by
D. Crow in 1983. The viability of this method of propulsion will be studied,
especially from the parallel electric and magnetic field approach.
