Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration)
Quantum field theory predicts a nonlinear response of the vacuum to strong electromagnetic fields of macroscopic extent. This fundamental tenet has remained experimentally challenging and is yet to be tested in the laboratory. A particularly distinct signature of the resulting optical activity of th...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| author | N. Ahmadiniaz C. Bähtz A. Benediktovitch C. Bömer L. Bocklage T. E. Cowan J. Edwards S. Evans S. Franchino Viñas H. Gies S. Göde J. Görs J. Grenzer U. Hernandez Acosta T. Heinzl P. Hilz W. Hippler L. G. Huang O. Humphries F. Karbstein P. Khademi B. King T. Kluge C. Kohlfürst D. Krebs A. Laso-García R. Lötzsch A. J. Macleod B. Marx-Glowna E. A. Mosman M. Nakatsutsumi G. G. Paulus S. V. Rahul L. Randolph R. Röhlsberger N. Rohringer A. Sävert S. Sadashivaiah R. Sauerbrey H.-P. Schlenviogt S. M. Schmidt U. Schramm R. Schützhold J.-P. Schwinkendorf D. Seipt M. Šmíd T. Stöhlker T. Toncian M. Valialshchikov A. Wipf U. Zastrau M. Zepf |
| author_facet | N. Ahmadiniaz C. Bähtz A. Benediktovitch C. Bömer L. Bocklage T. E. Cowan J. Edwards S. Evans S. Franchino Viñas H. Gies S. Göde J. Görs J. Grenzer U. Hernandez Acosta T. Heinzl P. Hilz W. Hippler L. G. Huang O. Humphries F. Karbstein P. Khademi B. King T. Kluge C. Kohlfürst D. Krebs A. Laso-García R. Lötzsch A. J. Macleod B. Marx-Glowna E. A. Mosman M. Nakatsutsumi G. G. Paulus S. V. Rahul L. Randolph R. Röhlsberger N. Rohringer A. Sävert S. Sadashivaiah R. Sauerbrey H.-P. Schlenviogt S. M. Schmidt U. Schramm R. Schützhold J.-P. Schwinkendorf D. Seipt M. Šmíd T. Stöhlker T. Toncian M. Valialshchikov A. Wipf U. Zastrau M. Zepf |
| author_sort | N. Ahmadiniaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quantum field theory predicts a nonlinear response of the vacuum to strong electromagnetic fields of macroscopic extent. This fundamental tenet has remained experimentally challenging and is yet to be tested in the laboratory. A particularly distinct signature of the resulting optical activity of the quantum vacuum is vacuum birefringence. This offers an excellent opportunity for a precision test of nonlinear quantum electrodynamics in an uncharted parameter regime. Recently, the operation of the high-intensity Relativistic Laser at the X-ray Free Electron Laser provided by the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields has been inaugurated at the High Energy Density scientific instrument of the European X-ray Free Electron Laser. We make the case that this worldwide unique combination of an X-ray free-electron laser and an ultra-intense near-infrared laser together with recent advances in high-precision X-ray polarimetry, refinements of prospective discovery scenarios and progress in their accurate theoretical modelling have set the stage for performing an actual discovery experiment of quantum vacuum nonlinearity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e06bf0f5fb49406a8adc6e4f1bcfdfaa |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2095-4719 2052-3289 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | High Power Laser Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-e06bf0f5fb49406a8adc6e4f1bcfdfaa2025-08-20T01:58:04ZengCambridge University PressHigh Power Laser Science and Engineering2095-47192052-32892025-01-011310.1017/hpl.2024.70Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration)N. Ahmadiniaz0C. Bähtz1A. Benediktovitch2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6599-354XC. Bömer3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6627-4037L. Bocklage4T. E. Cowan5J. Edwards6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6545-1193S. Evans7S. Franchino Viñas8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8408-8366H. Gies9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3114-4889S. Göde10J. Görs11J. Grenzer12U. Hernandez Acosta13T. Heinzl14P. Hilz15W. Hippler16L. G. Huang17https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1184-2097O. Humphries18F. Karbstein19https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2239-1789P. Khademi20B. King21T. Kluge22C. Kohlfürst23https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9119-4717D. Krebs24A. Laso-García25https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7671-0901R. Lötzsch26A. J. Macleod27https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0800-4423B. Marx-Glowna28E. A. Mosman29https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8094-0558M. Nakatsutsumi30https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0868-4745G. G. Paulus31S. V. Rahul32https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8215-2264L. Randolph33R. Röhlsberger34https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6005-5183N. Rohringer35A. Sävert36S. Sadashivaiah37https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0147-1173R. Sauerbrey38H.-P. Schlenviogt39https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4400-1315S. M. Schmidt40U. Schramm41https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0390-7671R. Schützhold42J.-P. Schwinkendorf43D. Seipt44M. Šmíd45T. Stöhlker46T. Toncian47https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7986-3631M. Valialshchikov48A. Wipf49U. Zastrau50M. Zepf51Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, GermanyDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, GermanyDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, GermanyCentre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UKHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, GermanyEuropean XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany Center for Advanced Systems Understanding, Görlitz, GermanyCentre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UKHelmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyEuropean XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, Germany GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, GermanyHelmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, GermanyCentre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UKHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, GermanyELI Beamlines Facility, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, Dolní Břežany, Czech RepublicHelmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, Germany GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, GermanyEuropean XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, GermanyEuropean XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, GermanyEuropean XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, GermanyDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany Department of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, Germany GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, GermanyDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, GermanyHelmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, GermanyHelmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, Germany GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, GermanyEuropean XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, Germany GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, Germany GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, GermanyHelmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, GermanyEuropean XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, GermanyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Jena, Germany GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, GermanyQuantum field theory predicts a nonlinear response of the vacuum to strong electromagnetic fields of macroscopic extent. This fundamental tenet has remained experimentally challenging and is yet to be tested in the laboratory. A particularly distinct signature of the resulting optical activity of the quantum vacuum is vacuum birefringence. This offers an excellent opportunity for a precision test of nonlinear quantum electrodynamics in an uncharted parameter regime. Recently, the operation of the high-intensity Relativistic Laser at the X-ray Free Electron Laser provided by the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields has been inaugurated at the High Energy Density scientific instrument of the European X-ray Free Electron Laser. We make the case that this worldwide unique combination of an X-ray free-electron laser and an ultra-intense near-infrared laser together with recent advances in high-precision X-ray polarimetry, refinements of prospective discovery scenarios and progress in their accurate theoretical modelling have set the stage for performing an actual discovery experiment of quantum vacuum nonlinearity.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2095471924000707/type/journal_articlelight-by-light scatteringvacuum birefringencevacuum polarization |
| spellingShingle | N. Ahmadiniaz C. Bähtz A. Benediktovitch C. Bömer L. Bocklage T. E. Cowan J. Edwards S. Evans S. Franchino Viñas H. Gies S. Göde J. Görs J. Grenzer U. Hernandez Acosta T. Heinzl P. Hilz W. Hippler L. G. Huang O. Humphries F. Karbstein P. Khademi B. King T. Kluge C. Kohlfürst D. Krebs A. Laso-García R. Lötzsch A. J. Macleod B. Marx-Glowna E. A. Mosman M. Nakatsutsumi G. G. Paulus S. V. Rahul L. Randolph R. Röhlsberger N. Rohringer A. Sävert S. Sadashivaiah R. Sauerbrey H.-P. Schlenviogt S. M. Schmidt U. Schramm R. Schützhold J.-P. Schwinkendorf D. Seipt M. Šmíd T. Stöhlker T. Toncian M. Valialshchikov A. Wipf U. Zastrau M. Zepf Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration) High Power Laser Science and Engineering light-by-light scattering vacuum birefringence vacuum polarization |
| title | Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration) |
| title_full | Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration) |
| title_fullStr | Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration) |
| title_short | Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration) |
| title_sort | towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the helmholtz international beamline for extreme fields letter of intent of the biref hibef collaboration |
| topic | light-by-light scattering vacuum birefringence vacuum polarization |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2095471924000707/type/journal_article |
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