Q & A experiment to search for vacuum dichroism, pseudoscalar-photon interaction and millicharged fermions

A number of experiments are underway to detect vacuum birefringence and dichroism-PVLAS, Q & A, and BMV. Recently, PVLAS experiment has observed optical rotation in vacuum by a magnetic field (vacuum dichroism). Theoretical interpretations of this result include a possible pseudoscalar-photon interaction and the existence of millicharged fermions. Here, we report the progress and first results of Q & A (QED [quantum electrodynamics] and Axion) experiment proposed and started in 1994. We use a 3.5-m high-finesse (around 30,000) Fabry-Perot prototype detector extendable to 7-m with the cavity mirrors suspended using X-pendulum-double pendulums. To polarize the vacuum, we use a 2.3-T dipole permanent magnet rotated at 5-10 rev/s, with 27-mm-diameter clear borehole and 0.6-m field length. Our ellipsometer/polarization-rotation-detection-system is formed by a pair of Glan-Taylor type polarizing prisms with extinction ratio lower than 10-8 together with a polarization modulating Faraday Cell with/without a quarter wave plate. Our first results give (-0.2 +/- 2.8) x 10(-13) rad/pass with 18,700 passes through a 2.3 T 0.6 m long magnet for vacuum dichroism measurement. We present our experimental limit on pseudo-scalar-photon interaction and millicharged fermions.