Related papers: Vacuum birefringence in strong inhomogeneous elect…
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…
We show that QED nonlinear effects imply a phase correction to the linear evolution of electromagnetic waves in vacuum. We provide explicit solutions of the modified Maxwell's equations for the propagation of a superposition of two plane…
We present the effects of resonator birefringence on the cavity-enhanced interfacing of quantum states of light and matter, including the first observation of single photons with a time-dependent polarisation state that evolves within their…
Quasi-elastic scattering processes have long been thought of providing the most promising signal for a first experimental detection of quantum vacuum nonlinearity. A prominent example of such a process is vacuum birefringence. However,…
Light-by-light scatterings contain rich information on the photon coupling to virtual and real particle states. In the context of quantum electrodynamics (QED), photons can couple to a virtual $e^+e^-$ pair. Photons may also couple to known…
Developing advanced technologies for sensing and imaging biological samples is crucial for medical applications, making quantum-enhanced methods particularly valuable, as they promise significant benefits over classical techniques. An…
This Report reviews the effort over several decades to observe the linear Breit-Wheeler process ($\gamma\gamma \rightarrow e^+e^-$) and vacuum birefringence in high-energy particle and heavy-ion collider experiment. This Report, motivated…
Coherent diffractive imaging has enabled the structural analysis of individual free nanoparticles in a single shot and offers the tracking of their light induced dynamics with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. The retrieval of…
One of the manifestations of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) is vacuum birefringence, which leads to an energy-dependent rotation of the polarization plane of linearly polarized photons arising from an astrophysical source. Here we use…
Double-slits provide incoming photons with a choice. Those that survive the passage have chosen from two possible paths which interfere to distribute them in a wave-like manner. Such wave-particle duality continues to be challenged and…
The property of linear and circular birefringence at each point of the optical medium has been evaluated here from differential matrix $N$ using the Jones calculus.This matrix lies on the OAM sphere for $l=1$ orbital angular momentum.The…
The causal properties of curved spacetime, which underpin our sense of time in gravitational theories, are defined by the null cones of the spacetime metric. In classical general relativity, it is assumed that these coincide with the light…
The properties of the quantum electrodynamic (QED) vacuum in general, and of the nuclear vacuum (ground) state in particular are determined by virtual processes implying the excitation of a photon and of an electron--positron pair in the…
We present the current status and outlook of the optical characterization of the polarimeter at the Bir\'{e}fringence Magn\'etique du Vide (BMV) experiment. BMV is a polarimetric search for the QED predicted anisotropy of vacuum in the…
We reconsider the problem of the birefringence of electromagnetic (EM) waves in a medium consisting of a plasma and a $\nu\bar{\nu}$-gas within the Standard Model of particle physics. The considered effect arises in such a medium due to the…
The low repetition rates and possible shot-to-shot variations in laser-plasma studies place a high value on single-shot diagnostics. For example, white-beam scattering methods based on broadband backlighter x-ray sources are used to…
We study the non-linear Breit-Wheeler process $\vec \gamma' + \vec L \to e^+ + e^-$ in the interaction of linearly polarized probe photons ($\vec \gamma'$) with a linearly polarized laser beam ($\vec L$). In particular, we consider the…
The quantum electrodynamical vacuum polarization effects arising in the collision of a high-energy proton beam and a strong, linearly polarized laser field are investigated. The probability that laser photons merge into one photon by…
Vacuum birefringence is a signature of Lorentz-symmetry violation. Here we report on a recent search for birefringence in the cosmic microwave background. Polarization data is used to place constraints on certain forms of Lorentz violation.
The photon vacuum polarization effect in curved spacetime leads to birefringence, i.e. the photon velocity becomes greater than (or less than) the speed of light depending on its polarization. We investigate this phenomenon in a…