The BMV experiment : a novel apparatus to study the propagation of light in a transverse magnetic field

Rémy Battesti (1) , Benoit Pinto da Souza (2) , S. Batut (1) , Cécile Robilliard (2) , Gilles G. Bailly (2, 3) , Christine Michel (4) , Marc Nardone (1) , L. Pinard (4) , Oliver Portugall (1) , Gérard Trénec (2) , J.-M. Mackowski (4) , Rikken G.L.J.A. (1) , Jacques Vigué (2) , Carlo Rizzo (2)

1 LNCMP - Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Pulsés
2 Interférométrie (LCAR)
3 LCAR - Laboratoire Collisions Agrégats Réactivité
4 LMA - Laboratoire des matériaux avancés

In this paper, we describe in detail the BMV (Biréfringence Magnétique du Vide) experiment, a novel apparatus to study the propagation of light in a transverse magnetic field. It is based on a very high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity and on pulsed magnets specially designed for this purpose. We justify our technical choices and we present the current status and perspectives.

Domaines: Optique [physics.optics]

Rémy Battesti, Benoit Pinto da Souza, S. Batut, Cécile Robilliard, Gilles G. Bailly, et al.. The BMV experiment : a novel apparatus to study the propagation of light in a transverse magnetic field. The European Physical Journal D : Atomic, molecular, optical and plasma physics, 2008, 46, pp.323-333. ⟨10.1140/epjd/e2007-00306-3⟩. ⟨in2p3-00178040⟩