窥探真空：强激光下的量子场实验

Quantum theory says a vacuum isn’t truly empty. Probing it with powerful lasers could finally expose its hidden structure, discovers Jon Cartwright ON THE outskirts of Hamburg, Germany, pulses from one of the world’s biggest X-ray lasers race underground towards a stainless-steel chamber. Directly above, another huge laser waits. Soon, its beam will be sent down to meet the X-rays head on, bringing the two extraordinarily powerful beams of light together in an almighty burst of energy. All very exciting, to be sure. But there is a serious side to these theatrics: the scientists behind them are hoping to see the vacuum. …