Interferometry of light propagation in pulsed fields

TL;DR

This paper explores using gravitational-wave interferometers with pulsed magnetic fields to detect quantum electrodynamics effects and potential hidden particles, leveraging their high sensitivity to phase velocity shifts.

Contribution

It proposes a novel experimental setup combining pulsed magnets with gravitational-wave detectors to probe nonlinear QED effects and hidden-sector particles.

Findings

Potential to detect strong-field QED phenomena.

Access to new parameter space for hidden-sector particles.

Feasibility depends on future interferometer sensitivity improvements.

Abstract

We investigate the use of ground-based gravitational-wave interferometers for studies of the strong-field domain of QED. Interferometric measurements of phase velocity shifts induced by quantum fluctuations in magnetic fields can become a sensitive probe for nonlinear self-interactions among macroscopic electromagnetic fields. We identify pulsed magnets as a suitable strong-field source, since their pulse frequency can be matched perfectly with the domain of highest sensitivity of gravitational-wave interferometers. If these interferometers reach their future sensitivity goals, not only strong-field QED phenomena can be discovered but also further parameter space of hypothetical hidden-sector particles will be accessible.