Abstract:The quantum vacuum shows an intensity-dependent nonlinear index of refraction. Consequently, we may consider vacuum as a non-linear medium enabling, at sufficiently high field strengths, a direct interaction of light with light. In this context, we advocate an experiment to measure light-by-light scattering by the means of self-focussing of an x-ray beam in vacuum. Although hard to measure, we argue that for laser beams consisting of highly energetic photons the beams' power distribution carries a distinctive … Show more
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