Using High-Power Lasers for Detection of Elastic Photon-Photon Scattering

E. Lundström, G. Brodin, J. Lundin, M. Marklund, R. Bingham, J. Collier, J. T. Mendonça, and P. Norreys
Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 083602 – Published 2 March 2006

Abstract

The properties of four-wave interaction via the nonlinear quantum vacuum is investigated. The effect of the quantum vacuum is to generate photons with new frequencies and wave vectors, due to elastic photon-photon scattering. An expression for the number of generated photons is derived, and using state-of-the-art laser data it is found that the number of photons can reach detectable levels. In particular, the prospect of using the high-repetition Astra Gemini system at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is discussed. The problem of noise sources is reviewed, and it is found that the noise level can be reduced well below the signal level. Thus, detection of elastic photon-photon scattering may for the first time be achieved.

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  • Received 6 October 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.083602

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

E. Lundström*, G. Brodin, J. Lundin, and M. Marklund

  • Department of Physics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden

R. Bingham, J. Collier, J. T. Mendonça, and P. Norreys

  • Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

  • *Currently at Department of Physics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Sweden.

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Vol. 96, Iss. 8 — 3 March 2006

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