Ultra-strong laser pulses: streak-camera for gamma-rays via pair production and quantum radiative reaction

We show that a strong laser pulse combined with a strong x-ray pulse can be employed in a detection scheme for characterizing high-energy $\gamma$-ray pulses down to the zeptosecond timescale. The scheme employs streak imaging technique built upon the high-energy process of electron-positron pair production in vacuum through the collision of a test pulse with intense laser pulses. The role of quantum radiation reaction in multiphoton Compton scattering process and limitations imposed by it on the detection scheme are examined.