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Solar wind test of the de Broglie-Proca massive photon with Cluster multi-spacecraft data

  • Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers en Région Centre
  • Uppsala Universitet
  • The Ångström Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Our understanding of the universe at large and small scales relies largely on electromagnetic observations. As photons are the messengers, fundamental physics has a concern in testing their properties, including the absence of mass. We use Cluster four spacecraft data in the solar wind at 1 AU to estimate the mass upper limit for the photon. We look for deviations from Ampère's law, through the curlometer technique for the computation of the magnetic field, and through the measurements of ion and electron velocities for the computation of the current. We show that the upper bound for mγ lies between 1.4×10-49 and 3.4×10-51 kg, and thereby discuss the currently accepted lower limits in the solar wind.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)49-55
Number of pages7
JournalAstroparticle Physics
Volume82
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2016

Keywords

  • Ampère's law
  • Cluster satellites
  • Photon mass
  • Solar wind

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