Monte Carlo challenges for strong field quantum electrodynamics

The assisted Schwinger effect, which is predicted to display nonperturbative quantum tunnelling, is expected to be produced in precision lab experiments with electron beams and intense lasers. Indeed, many novel effects predicted by a theory which incorporates the laser field exactly, can be probed experimentally with the proper application of theory and simulation. Among predicted first order effects are a rest mass shift and harmonic Compton scattering. Higher order effects include resonant transition rates which become apparent when scanned over specific kinematic parameters. The underpinning of the theory and experiment is a Monte Carlo simulation tool which precisely links experimental realities to the expected theoretical transition rates. We report on the progress of such a tool here.