Hsien-Hao Mei et al 2006 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 32 236 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/32/1/035
Hsien-Hao Mei, Sheng-Jui Chen and and Wei-Tou Ni
Show affiliationsThe Q & A experiment, first proposed and started in 1994, provides a feasible way of exploring the quantum vacuum through the detection of vacuum birefringence effect generated by QED loop diagram and the detection of the polarization rotation effect generated by photon-interacting (pseudo-)scalar particles. Three main parts of the experiment are: (1) Optics System (including associated Electronic System) based on a suspended 3.5-m high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity, (2) Ellipsometer using ultra-high extinction-ratio polarizer and analyzer, and (3) Magnetic Field Modulation System for generating the birefringence and the polarization rotation effect. In 2002, the Q & A experiment achieved the Phase I sensitivity goal. During Phase II, we set (i) to improve the control system of the cavity mirrors for suppressing the relative motion noise, (ii) to enhance the birefringence signal by setting-up a 60-cm long 2.3 T transverse permanent magnet rotatable to 10 rev/s, (iii) to reduce geometrical noise by inserting a suspended polarization-maintaining optical fiber (PM fiber) as a mode cleaner, and (iv) to use ultra-high extinction-ratio (10−9) polarizer and analyzer for ellipsometry. Here we report on (iii) & (iv); specifically, we present the properties of the PM-fiber modecleaner, the transfer function of its suspension system, and the result of our measurement of high extinction-ratio polarizer and analyzer.
04.80.-y Experimental studies of gravity
12.20.-m Quantum electrodynamics
Instrumentation and measurement
Issue 1 (2006)
Hsien-Hao Mei et al 2006 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 32 236
N Zhang and Z C Zheng 2007 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 40 2603
M Francaviglia and M Raiteri 2002 Class. Quantum Grav. 19 237
Tzu-Jen Kao et al 2006 Physiol. Meas. 27 S13
Norbert Lümmen and Thomas Kraska 2007 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 15 319
S Goßler et al 2004 Class. Quantum Grav. 21 S923
G Azuelos et al 2005 J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 31 1
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Vasily G Suvorov and Nikolay M Zubarev 2004 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 37 289
Ali Mostafazadeh 2003 Class. Quantum Grav. 20 155