Relativistic Quantum Kinetic Theory and Relativistic Quantum Image Particle Method for Kinetic Simulation of Wakes

The relativistic quantum image particle method is formulated for simulations of charged particle fluxes. The applicability of this relativistic quantum mechanical model is demonstrated in addition to the existing models of classical physics and mechanics. The fully quantum relativistic theory using Dirac–Heisenberg–Wigner (DHW) description is considered here to cover field strengths of the order of the Schwinger critical field or even larger. It enables the description of phenomena such as Zitterbewegung and the creation of electron–positron pairs. Besides this relativistic quantum generalization, this model shows clear agreement and correspondences with earlier analytical and numerical Boltzmann and Vlasov models.