EXA2011

The measurement of quantum vacuum magnetic birefringence is one of the ultimate experimental tests of Quantum electrodynamics. After a brief introduction to the theoretical aspects, I will present the status of the BMV (Birefringence Magnétique du Vide) experiment which is set up at the Toulouse High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Such novel attempt to search for the effect of magnetic fields on...

The invariance of the laws of physics under Lorentz transformations is one of the most fundamental principles underlying our current understanding of nature. In theories trying to unify the Standard Model with quantum gravity, this invariance may be broken, and dedicated high-precision experiments at low energy could be used to reveal such suppressed signals from the Planck scale....