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
I Filikhin et al 2005 J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 31 389
S Lomperski et al 2000 Meas. Sci. Technol. 11 518
F Y Wu and R K P Zia 1981 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 14 721
K Tachibana et al 1984 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 17 1727
Ann E Mattsson et al 2005 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 13 R1
2009 Phys. Educ. 44
D Verney et al 2006 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 49 170
W Hume-Rothery and G V Raynor 1941 J. Sci. Instrum. 18 74
F M Reicha et al 1991 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 24 369