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

• 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 Ampere'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 m(gamma) lies between 1.4 x 10(-49) and 3.4 x 10(-51) kg, and thereby discuss the currently accepted lower limits in the solar wind.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Photon mass

Solar wind

Cluster satellites

Ampere's law

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)