Probing the linear polarization of photons in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions

We propose to measure the linear polarization of the external electromagnetic fields of a relativistic heavy ion through azimuthal asymmetries in dilepton production in ultraperipheral collisions. The asymmetries estimated with the equivalent photon approximation are shown to be sizable. (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.