Challenge to experimental detection of the most intense magnetic field in the universe utilyzing non-central nucleus-nucleus collisions and to non-linear quantum electrodynamics

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26610071
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Particle/Nuclear/Cosmic ray/Astro physics
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Shigaki Kenta 広島大学, 理学研究科, 准教授 (70354743)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): ISHIKAWA KEN-ICHI 広島大学, 理学研究科, 准教授 (60334041) ; HIRANO TETSUFUMI 上智大学, 理工学部, 教授 (40318803) ; ITAKURA KAZUNORI 高エネルギー加速器研究機構, 素粒子原子核研究所, 研究機関講師 (30415046)
• Research Collaborator: TANIZAKI REMI 広島大学, 理学研究科, 大学院学生 ; UEDA YOSUKE 広島大学, 理学研究科, 大学院学生 ; NOBUHIRO AKIHIDE 広島大学, 理学研究科, 大学院学生 ; YAMAKAWA KOSEI 広島大学, 理学研究科, 大学院学生
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 高強度磁場 / 高エネルギー原子核衝突 / 仮想光子 / 偏光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have promoted measurements of anisotropy and polarization of direct virtual photons at LHC-ALICE and RHIC-PHENIX. Knowledge about the background effects has been improved, while no significant polarization has been detected. We introduced three polarization frames in addition to the laboratory frame. The Collins-Soper frame was found to have the most sensitivity. We have also established a method to detect the intense magnetic field via geometrical correlation analysis based on the global rotation of the collision system whose orientation is determined by the directed flow. The ALICE data give a constraint on the bending power of the produced magnetic field. Further progress has been made also on the theory side. This topic has become one of those attracting most attention in this field of physics.

Free Research Field

実験核物理