Support l'X Testing electrodynamics with extreme light intensities
Numerical simulation of the collision of a high-power laser amplified by a plasma mirror (red/blue) with a relativistic electron beam produced by a laser-plasma accelerator (gray). © Henri Vincenti 2024
How can we describe what happens when light interacts with matter? Thanks to quantum electrodynamics theory, developed in the 20th century, which has had many successes.
But when light is very intense (and the associated electromagnetic field reaches values of around 1018 volts per meter), the theory's predictions can only be obtained with approximations. These are known as perturbative methods. For even more extreme regimes, even these methods no longer work.
Devising a new theoretical framework
This is why a collaboration between the DESY (Germany), LIDYL (CEA Sacaly), LOA, and LULI laboratories will conduct experiments on light-matter interaction between an electron beam and an ultra-intense laser pulse. The aim will be to test the predictions of quantum electrodynamics and devise new developments in the theory for extreme conditions.
Among the researchers involved, Adrien Leblanc (LOA) is a specialist in laser-generated relativistic electron sources. He is also leading the ERC EXAFIELD project. Sébastien Meuren (LULI) has expertise in experiments involving collisions between these electrons and light beams.
This project, called NP-QED (Non-Perturbative Quantum Electrodynamics), is funded by an ERC Synergy Grant.
*LOA: a joint research unit CNRS, École Polytechnique, ENSTA Paris, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
LULI: a joint research unit CEA, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, École polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France