Quantum reflection as a new signature of quantum vacuum nonlinearity

We show that photons subject to a spatially inhomogeneous electromagnetic field can experience quantum reflection. Based on this observation, we propose quantum reflection as a novel means to probe the nonlinearity of the quantum vacuum in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields.

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Holger Gies, Felix Karbstein, Nico Seegert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2013-01-01
Series:New Journal of Physics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/8/083002