Coordination Funds

量子真空是量子场论所描述的自然界的基态，是所有已知物质及其粒子物理相互作用的基本理论概念。光与量子真空的相互作用产生了现代物理学中一些最基本和最奇异的过程，迄今为止这些过程在很大程度上还没有在实验室中进行过测试。量子电动力学（QED）的这些标志性预测的测试，光和物质的场论，现在正在成为可能。抓住这个机会是DFG 2783研究单位的目标。峰值功率高达10拍瓦（PW）的超强激光器的出现为我们在高强度前沿领域的知识发展提供了一个千载难逢的机会，再加上目前描述涨落诱导量子过程的理论方法的发展，QED真空的非线性区域在实验和理论上都变得可行。FOR 2783研究单位在第二个资助期内的雄心勃勃的计划依赖于量子真空过程的坚定理论预测，并旨在将最先进的超强激光技术与新颖的高纯度检测方案相结合进行实验研究。FOR 2783因此旨在首次实验发现非线性量子真空现象，如真空双折射，光的一般散射现象，如量子反射和量子真空折射，以及真空中轻子对的产生。

The quantum vacuum represents the ground state of Nature as it is described by quantum field theory, being the basic theory concept for all known matter and its particle-physics interactions.The interaction of light with the quantum vacuum gives rise to some of the most fundamental and exotic processes in modern physics, which remain largely untested in the laboratory to date. Tests of these iconic predictions of quantum electrodynamics (QED), the field theory of light and matter, are becoming possible just now. Seizing this opportunity is the goal of this DFG Research Unit FOR 2783. The advent of ultra-intense lasers with up to 10 petawatt (PW) peak power now provides a golden opportunity to advance our knowledge at the high-intensity frontier.Together with the current development of theoretical methods to describe fluctuation-induced quantum processes, the nonlinear regime of the QED vacuum is becoming accessible both experimentally and theoretically. The ambitious program of the Research Unit FOR 2783 in the 2nd funding period relies on firm theory predictions for quantum vacuum processes and aims at their experimental investigation combining the most advanced ultra-intense laser technology with novel high-purity detection schemes.FOR 2783 thus aims at a first experimental discovery of nonlinear quantum vacuum phenomena such as vacuum birefringence, general scattering phenomena of light such as quantum reflection and quantum-vacuum refraction, and lepton pair production in vacuum.