Related papers: External Fields as a Probe for Fundamental Physics
Vacuum birefringence is one of the most striking predictions of strong field quantum electrodynamics: Probe photons traversing a strong field region can indirectly sense the applied "pump" electromagnetic field via quantum fluctuations of…
One of the major difficulties of modern science underlies at the unification of general relativity and quantum mechanics. Different approaches towards such theory have been proposed. Noncommutative theories serve as the root of almost all…
Rapid experimental progress has recently allowed the use of light to prepare macroscopic mechanical objects into nearly pure quantum states. This research field of quantum optomechanics opens new doors toward testing quantum mechanics, and…
The foundational ideas of quantum mechanics continue to give rise to counterintuitive theories and physical effects that are in conflict with a classical description of Nature. Experiments with light at the single photon level have…
Photons and dileptons are being used to probe the properties of nuclear and quark-gluon matter at high energy densities. This is an area where theory and experiment are driving each other to obtain solid results. However, it is important to…
Examining and controlling the interaction between semiconductor quantum qubits and their environment can boost semiconductor quantum technologies, which have many applications in table-top quantum computing hardware. Electron beams in…
Although quantum mechanics (QM) and quantum field theory (QFT) are highly successful, the seemingly simplest state -- vacuum -- remains mysterious. While the LHC experiments are expected to clarify basic questions on the structure of QFT…
Low energy experiments with photons can provide deep insights into fundamental physics. In this note we concentrate on minicharged particles. We discuss how they can arise in extensions of the standard model and how we can search for them…
This report provides a brief review of recently developed extended framework for fundamental physics, designated as Quantum Field Mechanics and including causally complete and intrinsically unified theory of explicitly emerging elementary…
We investigate the potential to probe physics beyond the Standard Model with isotope shift measurements of optical atomic clock transitions. We first derive the reach for generic new physics above the GeV scale at the effective field theory…
Optical experiments designed to explore quantum complementarity are reanalyzed. It is argued that, for each, a classical explanation is not only possible, but more coherent and less contrived. The final conclusion is that these experiments…
Direct detection of vacuum fluctuations and analysis of sub-cycle quantum properties of the electric field are explored by a paraxial quantum theory of ultrafast electro-optic sampling. The feasibility of such experiments is demonstrated by…
We provide a theoretical framework to describe the dynamics of a free-electron beam interacting with quantized bound systems in arbitrary electromagnetic environments. This expands the quantum optics toolbox to incorporate free-electron…
Quantum physics holds the promise of enabling certain tasks with better performance than possible when only classical resources are employed. The quantum phenomena present in many experiments signify nonclassical behavior, but do not always…
Atmospheric channels are a promising candidate to establish secure quantum communication on a global scale. However, due to their turbulent nature, it is crucial to understand the impact of the atmosphere on the quantum properties of light…
It is commonly agreed that the electromagnetic vacuum is not empty but filled with virtual photons. This leads to effects like Lamb shift and spontaneous emission. Here we argue that if the vacuum has virtual photons it might mean that it…
This article reviews recent developments in tests of fundamental physics using atoms and molecules, including the subjects of parity violation, searches for permanent electric dipole moments, tests of the CPT theorem and Lorentz symmetry,…
When exposed to intense electromagnetic fields, the quantum vacuum is expected to exhibit properties of a polarisable medium akin to a weakly nonlinear dielectric material. Various schemes have been proposed to measure such vacuum…
The exceptional precision attainable using modern spectroscopic techniques provides a promising avenue to search for signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model in tiny shifts of the energy levels of atoms and molecules. We briefly…
High-energy photons (above the MeV) are a powerful probe for astrophysics and for fundamental physics under extreme conditions. During the recent years, our knowledge of the high-energy gamma-ray sky has impressively progressed thanks to…