Photon-mass bound destroyed by vortices

Eric Adelberger, Gia Dvali, Andrei Gruzinov

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The Particle Data Group gives an upper bound on the photon mass m<2×10-16eV from a laboratory experiment and lists, but does not adopt, an astronomical bound m<3×10-27eV, both of which are based on the plausible assumption of large galactic vector potential. We argue that the interpretations of these experiments should be changed, which alters significantly the bounds on m. If m arises from a Higgs effect, both limits are invalid because the Proca vector potential of the galactic magnetic field may be neutralized by vortices giving a large-scale magnetic field that is effectively Maxwellian. If, on the other hand, the galactic magnetic field is in the Proca regime, the very existence of the observed large-scale magnetic field gives m-1 1kpc, or m 10-26eV.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Article number010402
    JournalPhysical Review Letters
    Volume98
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2007

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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