Photon-photon physics may hold the key to many discoveries, whether these are new exotic mesons, ALPs, or precision effects beyond the Standard Model. It is important to assess and efficiently exploit the discovery potential of \(\gamma\gamma\) collisions at the existing and newly-built experimental facilities (MAMI, MESA, BESIII, LHC), along with the theoretical work on quantifying the QCD contribution.
At the Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) Mainz, we have formed a close-knit team of researchers, ready to take on these tasks within the Research Unit FOR 5327. Our team has broad and complementary expertise in various aspects of photon-photon physics, both in theory and experiment.
By including international experts, this Research Unit will expand its expertise and advance the understanding of \(\gamma\gamma\) interactions as a precision and discovery tool, and thereby have a decisive impact on hadron and particle physics.
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New research unit at JGU granted DFG funding
Photon-photon interactions in the Standard Model and beyond - A pure quantum effect as the key to a better understanding of the subatomic world
April 11, 2022
In classical physics, the superposition of light waves resulting in interference is a well-known phenomenon. An interaction of light rays in the sense of a scattering is, however, classically impossible. Conversely, in the subatomic world, which is described by quantum effects, the quantum particles of light – known as photons – do indeed interact with each other. Moreover, photon-photon interactions play a crucial role in the Standard Model of particle physics. A better understanding of this pure quantum effect is the key to gaining important new insights both within the Standard Model as well as beyond it. This photon-photon interaction is the focus of a new research unit at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). Funding for the research unit has just been approved by the German Research Foundation (DFG); the DFG will initially provide roughly 3.5 million Euros over the next four years. The spokesperson of the research unit is Professor Achim Denig, an experimental physicist and the co-spokesperson is Professor Marc Vanderhaeghen, a theoretical physicist, both of whom work at JGU's Institute of Nuclear Physics.
More information is available in the press release.