Detection schemes for quantum vacuum diffraction and birefringence

Abstract

Motivated by recent experimental initiatives, such as at the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL), we calculate the birefringent scattering of x-rays at the combined field of two optical (or near-optical) lasers and compare various scenarios. In order to facilitate an experimental detection of quantum vacuum diffraction and birefringence, special emphasis is placed on scenarios where the difference between the initial and final x-ray photons is maximized. Apart from their polarization, these signal and background photons may differ in propagation direction (corresponding to scattering angles in the mrad regime) and possibly energy.