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Alp, E.E.; Sturhahn, W.; Toellner, T. S.

doi:10.1023/a:1012673301869

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…This should be compared to the sensitivity scale of an x-ray polarization measurement required for detecting ellipticity. Theoretical estimates predict that sensitivity bounds on the order of ψ ≃ 3 × 10 −6 should be measurable with highprecision techniques for these frequencies [17]. Therefore, quantum-induced nonlinearities of electromagnetic fields may already be discovered at Peta-Watt lasers such as POLARIS.…”

Section: Heisenberg-euler Effective Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong laser fields as a probe for fundamental physics

Gies

2009

Eur. Phys. J. D

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Abstract. Upcoming high-intensity laser systems will be able to probe the quantum-induced nonlinear regime of electrodynamics. So far unobserved QED phenomena such as the discovery of a nonlinear response of the quantum vacuum to macroscopic electromagnetic fields can become accessible. In addition, such laser systems provide for a flexible tool for investigating fundamental physics. Primary goals consist in verifying so far unobserved QED phenomena. Moreover, strong-field experiments can search for new light but weakly interacting degrees of freedom and are thus complementary to accelerator-driven experiments. I review recent developments in this field, focusing on photon experiments in strong electromagnetic fields. The interaction of particle-physics candidates with photons and external fields can be parameterized by low-energy effective actions and typically predict characteristic optical signatures. I perform first estimates of the accessible new-physics parameter space of high-intensity laser facilities such as POLARIS and ELI.

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Section: Heisenberg-euler Effective Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong laser fields as a probe for fundamental physics

Gies

2009

Eur. Phys. J. D

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“…In general it is a reasonable approximation to let s 0 → ∞. For a single Gaussian beam, z 0 is the Rayleigh length and the intensity I 1 follows a Lorentz curve, hence g 1 (s) = 1/(1 + s 2 ) implying κ 1 (∞) = π. Identifying d = 2z 0 this differs from (20) by a factor of π/2 = O(1). For two counter propagating Gaussian beams ('standing wave') obtained from splitting a beam of intensity I 1 one gains a factor of two in peak intensity but the distribution gets thinned out due to the usual cos 2 modulation, which cancels the gain in intensity leading to the same correction factor κ 2 = π = κ 1 .…”

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confidence: 97%

“…The values of δ 2 obtained for such lasers (Tab. I) are at the limit of the accuracy that can now be obtained with high-contrast x-ray polarimeters using multiple Bragg reflections from channelcut perfect crystals [13,19,20]. These instruments are in principle capable of a sensitivity of δ 2 ≃ 10 −11 [20].…”

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confidence: 99%

On the observation of vacuum birefringence

Heinzl

Liesfeld

Amthor

et al. 2006

Optics Communications

292

334

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We suggest an experiment to observe vacuum birefringence induced by intense laser fields. A high-intensity laser pulse is focused to ultra-relativistic intensity and polarizes the vacuum which then acts like a birefringent medium. The latter is probed by a linearly polarized x-ray pulse. We calculate the resulting ellipticity signal within strong-field QED assuming Gaussian beams. The laser technology required for detecting the signal will be available within the next three years. The interactions of light and matter are described by quantum electrodynamics (QED), at present the bestestablished theory in physics. The QED Lagrangian couples photons to charged Dirac particles in a gauge invariant way. At photon energies small compared to the electron mass, ω ≪ m e , electrons (and positrons) will generically not be produced as real particles. Nevertheless, as already stated by Heisenberg and Euler, "...even in situations where the [photon] energy is not sufficient for matter production, its virtual possibility will result in a 'polarization of the vacuum' and hence in an alteration of Maxwell's equations" [1]. These authors were the first to explicitly derive the nonlinear terms induced by QED for small photon energies but arbitrary intensities (see also [2]).The most spectacular process resulting from these modifications presumably is pair production in a constant electric field. This is an absorptive process as photons disappear by disintegration into matter pairs. It can occur for field strengths larger than the critical one given by [3,4] In this electric field an electron gains an energy m e upon travelling a distance equal to its Compton wavelength, λ e = 1/m e . The associated intensity is I c = E 2 c ≃ 4.4 × 10 29 W/cm 2 such that both field strength and intensity * Electronic address: theinzl@plymouth.ac.uk

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“…The probe acquires an ellipticity of the order of 10 -5 rad. Such values of ellipticity and polarization are nowadays measureable in the X-ray regime [89].…”

Section: Vacuum Physicsmentioning

confidence: 99%