Master formulas for N-photon tree level amplitudes in plane wave backgrounds

Abstract

The presence of strong electromagnetic fields adds huge complexity to QED Feynman diagrams, such that new methods are required to calculate higher-loop and higher-multiplicity scattering amplitudes. Here we use the worldline formalism to present “master formulas” for all tree level amplitudes of two massive particles and an arbitrary number of photons, in a plane wave background, in both scalar and spinor QED. The plane wave is treated without approximation throughout, meaning in particular that our formulas are valid in the strong-field regime of current theoretical and experimental interest. We check our results against literature expressions obtainable at low multiplicity via direct Feynman diagram calculations.