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 lab...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.展开更多
We present the first systematic experimental validation of return-current-driven cylindrical implosion scaling in micrometer-sized Cu and Al wires irradiated by J-class femtosecond laser pulses.Employing XFEL-based im...We present the first systematic experimental validation of return-current-driven cylindrical implosion scaling in micrometer-sized Cu and Al wires irradiated by J-class femtosecond laser pulses.Employing XFEL-based imaging with sub-micrometer spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution,supported by hydrodynamic and particle-in-cell simulations,we reveal how return current density depends precisely on wire diameter,material properties,and incident laser energy.We identify deviations from simple theoretical predictions due to geometrically influenced electron escape dynamics.These results refine and confirm the scaling laws essential for predictive modeling in high-energy-density physics and inertial fusion research.展开更多
基金funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG,German Research Foundation)under Grants Nos.392856280,416611371,416607684,416702141 and 416708866 within the Research Unit FOR2783/2 and Project-ID 278162697–SFB 1242.
文摘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.
基金partially supported by the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding(CASUS)financed by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF)+2 种基金the Saxon State Government out of the State Budget approved by the Saxon State Parliamentfunding from the European Union’s Just Transition Fund(JTF)within the project Röntgenlaser-Optimierung der Laserfusion(ROLF),Contract No.5086999001co-financed by the Saxon State Government out of the State Budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.
文摘We present the first systematic experimental validation of return-current-driven cylindrical implosion scaling in micrometer-sized Cu and Al wires irradiated by J-class femtosecond laser pulses.Employing XFEL-based imaging with sub-micrometer spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution,supported by hydrodynamic and particle-in-cell simulations,we reveal how return current density depends precisely on wire diameter,material properties,and incident laser energy.We identify deviations from simple theoretical predictions due to geometrically influenced electron escape dynamics.These results refine and confirm the scaling laws essential for predictive modeling in high-energy-density physics and inertial fusion research.
