• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Possible Precise Measurement of Delbrück Scattering Using Polarized Photon Beams

James K. Koga and Takehito Hayakawa
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 204801 – Published 17 May 2017
Physics logo See Synopsis: Scattering from the Quantum Vacuum  

Abstract

The advent of high-flux-polarized γ-ray sources makes possible the nearly isolated precise measurement of the vacuum contribution, Delbrück scattering, to the elastic scattering of these photons off nuclei. Because of the fact that the elastic scattering of the photons is a coherent summation of four processes and that up to now unpolarized sources have been used, the isolated measurement of Delbrück scattering has not been performed. We show that for the appropriate choice of scattering angles, photon polarization, and energies this scattering can be measured nearly independently of other scattering processes. This makes possible the precise measurement of the vacuum contribution to scattering and the possibility of the detection of new physics.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 24 February 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.204801

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Physical Systems
Accelerators & BeamsAtomic, Molecular & OpticalPlasma PhysicsNuclear PhysicsInterdisciplinary PhysicsGeneral PhysicsParticles & Fields

Synopsis

Key Image

Scattering from the Quantum Vacuum  

Published 17 May 2017

Polarized gamma rays could be used to measure how gamma-ray photons scatter off the virtual particles that make up the quantum vacuum.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

James K. Koga*

  • National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan

Takehito Hayakawa

  • National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan

  • *koga.james@qst.go.jp

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 20 — 19 May 2017

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×