  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. A 3.5-m high-finesse (around 30,000)
Fabry-Perot prototype detector extendable to 7-m has been built and tested. We
use X-pendulums and automatic control schemes developed by the
gravitational-wave detection community for mirror suspension and cavity
control. To polarize the vacuum, we use a 2.3-T dipole permanent magnet, with
27-mm-diameter clear borehole and 0.6-m field length,. In the experiment, the
magnet is rotated at 5-10 rev/s to generate time-dependent polarization signal
with twice the rotation frequency. 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. We made an independent calibration of our apparatus by performing a
measurement of gaseous Cotton-Mouton effect of nitrogen. We present our first
experimental results and give a brief discussion of our experimental limit on
pseudo-scalar-photon interaction and millicharged fermions.
