Leading-Order Gluon-Pair Production from a Space-Time Dependent Chromofield

We describe gluon-pair production from a space-time dependent chromofield via vacuum polarization within the framework of the background field method of QCD. The processes we consider are first order in the action. We derive the corresponding source terms for gluon pair production for situations that can be described by a 1+1 dimensional approach. Especially, we observe that within the range of applicability of our approach the principal contribution to gluon production is included. Gluon production from a space-time dependent chromofield will play an important role in the production and evolution of the quark-gluon plasma in ultra relativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and LHC. PACS: 12.38.Aw; 11.55.-q; 11.15.Kc; 12.38.Bx Typeset using REVTEX