LUXE: a new experiment to study non-perturbative QED and search for new particles in electron-laser and photon-laser collisions

Abstract

LUXE is a proposed near-future experiment along the European XFEL beamline aiming to make several new measurements in the non-perturbative regime of strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SFQED). The experiment will collide electrons and photons with a high-intensity laser in order to measure multiple non-linear processes unique to the extreme realm of SFQED, allowing the first chance to validate theoretical models in this unexplored regime. The photon-laser collisions in particular will be unique to LUXE, offering the most direct demonstration of electron-positron pair production from the QED vacuum at extreme field strengths. Additionally, the large quantities of photons reaching the final beam dump of the experiment will be utilized in a search for long-lived, axion-like particles which are candidates for dark matter. A variety of complimentary detector systems are used to ensure precise results and accurate calibration. The theoretical background and experimental program are briefly outlined, in order to give a broad view of the experimental goals