Polarimetry for measuring the vacuum magnetic birefringence with quasi-static fields. A feasibility study for the VMB@CERN experiment

We present an experimental feasibility study of the polarimetric method for measuring the vacuum magnetic birefringence based on a pair of rotating half-wave plates. The presence of a systematic effect at the same frequency as the sought for magneto-optical effect inhibits the use of strictly constant magnetic fields. We characterise this systematic, discuss its origin and propose a viable workaround.