Impact of spin-zero particle-photon interactions on light polarization in external magnetic fields

Abstract

If the recent PVLAS results on polarization changes of a linearly polarized laser beam passing through a magnetic field are interpreted by an axion-like particle, it is almost certain that it is not a standard QCD axion. Considering this, we study the general effective interactions of photons with spin-zero particles without restricting the latter to be a pseudo-scalar or a scalar, i.e., a parity eigenstate. At the lowest order in effective field theory, there are two dimension-5 interactions, each of which has previously been treated separately for a pseudo-scalar or a scalar particle. By following the evolution in an external magnetic field of the system of spin-zero particles and photons, we compute the changes in light polarization and the transition probability for two experimental set-ups: one-way propagation and round-trip propagation. While the first may be relevant for astrophysical sources of spin-zero particles, the second applies to laboratory optical experiments like PVLAS. In the one-way propagation, interesting phenomena can occur for special configurations of polarization where, for instance, transition occurs but light polarization does not change. For the round-trip propagation, however, the standard results of polarization changes for a pseudoscalar or a scalar are only modified by a factor that depends on the relative strength of the two interactions.

To appear in PLB, 10 pp, 0 figs; thanks to the anonymous referee for useful comments/suggestions. Main changes: (1)English hopefully improved. (2)The word `interference' deleted. (3)Results unchanged but discussions extended. (4)Quote Ref [26] where spin-zero particles with mixed parity appear. (5)Acknowledgements added

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• Constraining nonlinear corrections to Maxwell electrodynamics using $\gamma \gamma$ scattering
• Extending the reach of axion-photon regeneration experiments towards larger masses with phase shift plates
• Probing CP Violation in Photon Self-Interactions with Cavities
• Can the PVLAS particle be compatible with the astrophysical bounds?
• Mixing of photons with massive spin-two particles in a magnetic field
• CP-Violation in Low-Energy Photon-Photon Interactions
• Remarks on confinement driven by axion-like particles in Yang-Mills theories
• Optical effects of domain walls