Seminari INFN

Light polarization oscillations induced by photon-photon scattering

by Fabio Briscese (Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China)

Europe/Rome
Aula Conversi (Dipartimento di Fisica - ED. G. Marconi)

Aula Conversi

Dipartimento di Fisica - ED. G. Marconi

Description
Light-by-light scattering is an extremely rare process, which remained elusive for a long time, until its recent detection at the LHC. I will show that, although extraordinarily weak, this process produces observable effects on light beams propagating in vacuum, due to the action of hidden secularities that amplify light self-interaction. Using multiscale techniques, it is possibly to show that, in specific situations, the polarization of light beams oscillates continuously between left and right configurations. Remarkably, the main features of the polarization oscillations can be determined analytically. Finally, I will discuss the physical implications of this finding, and the possibility of disclosing signatures of photon-photon scattering in laser experiments.