Quantum Electrodynamics Faces Unprecedented Challenge in Groundbreaking Experiment
Scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have proposed improvements for an upcoming experiment at the European XFEL in Hamburg aimed at detecting quantum fluctuations in vacuum. By manipulating the vacuum fluctuations using an ultra-powerful laser, the researchers hope to observe changes in the polarization of an X-ray flash. The original plan involved shooting one laser flash, but due to the weak signal, the team now plans to shoot two laser pulses simultaneously to increase the chances of detecting the effect. If successful, the experiment could confirm the theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) or reveal deviations that suggest the existence of new particles and laws of nature.