Improved Constraints on Isotropic Shift and Anisotropies of the Speed of Light Using Rotating Cryogenic Sapphire Oscillators

 Title: Improved Constraints on Isotropic Shift and Anisotropies of the Speed of Light Using Rotating Cryogenic Sapphire Oscillators Author: Stanwix, Paul; Tobar, Michael E.; Phillips, David F.; Walsworth, Ronald L.; Hohensee, Michael A.; Parker, Steven R. Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. Citation: Hohensee, Michael A., Paul L. Stanwix, Michael E. Tobar, Stephen R. Parker, David F. Phillips, and Ronald L. Walsworth. 2010. Improved constraints on isotropic shift and anisotropies of the speed of light using rotating cryogenic sapphire oscillators. Physical Review D 82(7): 076001. Full Text & Related Files: Hohensee_ImprovedConstraints.pdf (1.329Mb; PDF) Abstract: We demonstrate that Michelson-Morley tests, which detect direction-dependent anisotropies in the speed of light, can also be used to place limits upon isotropic deviations of the vacuum speed of light from $$c$$, as described by the photon-sector standard model extension parameter $$\tilde\kappa_{tr}$$. A shift in the speed of light that is isotropic in one inertial frame implies anisotropic shifts in others. Using observer Lorentz covariance, we derive the time-dependent variations in the relative resonance frequencies of a pair of electromagnetic resonators that would be generated by such a shift in the rest frame of the Sun. A new analysis of a recent experimental test of relativity using this result constrains $$\tilde\kappa_{tr}$$ with a precision of $$7.4 \times 10^{-9}$$. This represents the first constraint on $$\tilde\kappa_{tr}$$ by a Michelson-Morley experiment and the first analysis of a single experiment to simultaneously set limits on all nine nonbirefringent terms in the photon sector of the minimal standard model extension. Published Version: doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.82.076001 Other Sources: http://arxiv.org/abs/1006.1376 http://walsworth.physics.harvard.edu/publications/2010_Hohensee_PRD.pdf Terms of Use: This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAA Citable link to this page: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10001144

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Peer reviewed scholarly articles from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University