In this paper, we show how classical statistical field theory techniques can be used to efficiently perform the numerical evaluation of the nonperturbative Schwinger mechanism of particle production by quantum tunneling. In some approximation, we also consider the backreaction of the produced particles on the external field, as well as the self-interactions of the produced particles.

• Received 1 May 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.87.125035