Letter of Intent: Towards a Vacuum Birefringence Experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields

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. Schlenvoigt; 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

Letter of Intent: Towards a Vacuum Birefringence Experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields

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. KarbsteinP. 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. Schlenvoigt, 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

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

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Abstract

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 laser ReLaX provided by the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) has been inaugurated at the High Energy Density (HED) scientific instrument of the European XFEL. 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.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 28 May 2024

Keywords

physics.ins-det
hep-ex
hep-ph
physics.optics

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2405.18063v1Final published version, 5.75 MB

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Ahmadiniaz, N., Bähtz, C., Benediktovitch, A., Bömer, C., Bocklage, L., Cowan, T. E., Edwards, J., Evans, S., Viñas, S. F., Gies, H., Göde, S., Görs, J., Grenzer, J., Acosta, U. H., Heinzl, T., Hilz, P., Hippler, W., Huang, L. G., Humphries, O., ... Zepf, M. (2024). Letter of Intent: Towards a Vacuum Birefringence Experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields.

@techreport{44ef9c2adb684e32b4a6eed6c8e81036,

title = "Letter of Intent: Towards a Vacuum Birefringence Experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields",

abstract = " 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 laser ReLaX provided by the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) has been inaugurated at the High Energy Density (HED) scientific instrument of the European XFEL. 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. ",

keywords = "physics.ins-det, hep-ex, hep-ph, physics.optics",

author = "N. Ahmadiniaz and C. B{\"a}htz and A. Benediktovitch and C. B{\"o}mer and L. Bocklage and Cowan, \{T. E.\} and J. Edwards and S. Evans and Vi{\~n}as, \{S. Franchino\} and H. Gies and S. G{\"o}de and J. G{\"o}rs and J. Grenzer and Acosta, \{U. Hernandez\} and T. Heinzl and P. Hilz and W. Hippler and Huang, \{L. G.\} and O. Humphries and F. Karbstein and P. Khademi and B. King and T. Kluge and C. Kohlf{\"u}rst and D. Krebs and A. Laso-Garc{\'i}a and R. L{\"o}tzsch and Macleod, \{A. J.\} and B. Marx-Glowna and Mosman, \{E. A.\} and M. Nakatsutsumi and Paulus, \{G. G.\} and Rahul, \{S. V.\} and L. Randolph and R. R{\"o}hlsberger and N. Rohringer and A. S{\"a}vert and S. Sadashivaiah and R. Sauerbrey and Schlenvoigt, \{H. -P.\} and Schmidt, \{S. M.\} and U. Schramm and R. Sch{\"u}tzhold and Schwinkendorf, \{J. -P.\} and D. Seipt and M. {\v S}m{\'i}d and T. St{\"o}hlker and T. Toncian and M. Valialshchikov and A. Wipf and U. Zastrau and M. Zepf",

note = "34 pages, 21 figures",

year = "2024",

month = may,

day = "28",

language = "English",

type = "WorkingPaper",

}

Ahmadiniaz, N, Bähtz, C, Benediktovitch, A, Bömer, C, Bocklage, L, Cowan, TE, Edwards, J , Evans, S, Viñas, SF, Gies, H, Göde, S, Görs, J, Grenzer, J, Acosta, UH, Heinzl, T, Hilz, P, Hippler, W, Huang, LG, Humphries, O, Karbstein, F, Khademi, P, King, B, Kluge, T, Kohlfürst, C, Krebs, D, Laso-García, A, Lötzsch, R, Macleod, AJ, Marx-Glowna, B, Mosman, EA, Nakatsutsumi, M, Paulus, GG, Rahul, SV, Randolph, L, Röhlsberger, R, Rohringer, N, Sävert, A, Sadashivaiah, S, Sauerbrey, R, Schlenvoigt, H-P, Schmidt, SM, Schramm, U, Schützhold, R, Schwinkendorf, J-P, Seipt, D, Šmíd, M, Stöhlker, T, Toncian, T, Valialshchikov, M, Wipf, A, Zastrau, U & Zepf, M 2024 'Letter of Intent: Towards a Vacuum Birefringence Experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields'.

TY - UNPB

T1 - Letter of Intent

T2 - Towards a Vacuum Birefringence Experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields

AU - Ahmadiniaz, N.

AU - Bähtz, C.

AU - Benediktovitch, A.

AU - Bömer, C.

AU - Bocklage, L.

AU - Cowan, T. E.

AU - Edwards, J.

AU - Evans, S.

AU - Viñas, S. Franchino

AU - Gies, H.

AU - Göde, S.

AU - Görs, J.

AU - Grenzer, J.

AU - Acosta, U. Hernandez

AU - Heinzl, T.

AU - Hilz, P.

AU - Hippler, W.

AU - Huang, L. G.

AU - Humphries, O.

AU - Karbstein, F.

AU - Khademi, P.

AU - King, B.

AU - Kluge, T.

AU - Kohlfürst, C.

AU - Krebs, D.

AU - Laso-García, A.

AU - Lötzsch, R.

AU - Macleod, A. J.

AU - Marx-Glowna, B.

AU - Mosman, E. A.

AU - Nakatsutsumi, M.

AU - Paulus, G. G.

AU - Rahul, S. V.

AU - Randolph, L.

AU - Röhlsberger, R.

AU - Rohringer, N.

AU - Sävert, A.

AU - Sadashivaiah, S.

AU - Sauerbrey, R.

AU - Schlenvoigt, H. -P.

AU - Schmidt, S. M.

AU - Schramm, U.

AU - Schützhold, R.

AU - Schwinkendorf, J. -P.

AU - Seipt, D.

AU - Šmíd, M.

AU - Stöhlker, T.

AU - Toncian, T.

AU - Valialshchikov, M.

AU - Wipf, A.

AU - Zastrau, U.

AU - Zepf, M.

N1 - 34 pages, 21 figures

PY - 2024/5/28

Y1 - 2024/5/28

N2 - 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 laser ReLaX provided by the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) has been inaugurated at the High Energy Density (HED) scientific instrument of the European XFEL. 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.

AB - 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 laser ReLaX provided by the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) has been inaugurated at the High Energy Density (HED) scientific instrument of the European XFEL. 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.

KW - physics.ins-det

KW - hep-ex

KW - hep-ph

KW - physics.optics

UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/secam-research/1953/

M3 - Preprint

BT - Letter of Intent

ER -

Letter of Intent: Towards a Vacuum Birefringence Experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields

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Keywords

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Towards a vacuum birefringence experiment at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields: Letter of Intent of the BIREF@HIBEF Collaboration

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