16,661 research outputs found
Lorentz invariance violation and charge (non--)conservation: A general theoretical frame for extensions of the Maxwell equations
All quantum gravity approaches lead to small modifications in the standard
laws of physics which lead to violations of Lorentz invariance. One particular
example is the extended standard model (SME). Here, a general phenomenological
approach for extensions of the Maxwell equations is presented which turns out
to be more general than the SME and which covers charge non--conservation
(CNC), too. The new Lorentz invariance violating terms cannot be probed by
optical experiments but need, instead, the exploration of the electromagnetic
field created by a point charge or a magnetic dipole. Some scalar--tensor
theories and higher dimensional brane theories predict CNC in four dimensions
and some models violating Special Relativity have been shown to be connected
with CNC and its relation to the Einstein Equivalence Principle has been
discussed. Due to this upcoming interest, the experimental status of electric
charge conservation is reviewed. Up to now there seem to exist no unique tests
of charge conservation. CNC is related to the precession of polarization, to a
modification of the --Coulomb potential, and to a time-dependence of the
fine structure constant. This gives the opportunity to describe a dedicated
search for CNC.Comment: To appear in Physical Review
Q & A Experiment to Search for Vacuum Dichroism, Pseudoscalar-Photon Interaction and Millicharged Fermions
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.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, submitted to Modern Physics Letter
The effect of the motion of the Sun on the light-time in interplanetary relativistic experiments
In 2002 a measurement of the effect of solar gravity upon the phase of
coherent microwave beams passing near the Sun has been carried out with the
Cassini mission, allowing a very accurate measurement of the PPN parameter
. The data have been analyzed with NASA's Orbit Determination Program
(ODP) in the Barycentric Celestial Reference System, in which the Sun moves
around the centre of mass of the solar system with a velocity of
about 10 m/sec; the question arises, what correction this implies for the
predicted phase shift. After a review of the way the ODP works, we set the
problem in the framework of Lorentz (and Galilean) transformations and evaluate
the correction; it is several orders of magnitude below our experimental
accuracy. We also discuss a recent paper \cite{kopeikin07}, which claims wrong
and much larger corrections, and clarify the reasons for the discrepancy.Comment: Final version accepted by Classical and Quantum Gravity (8 Jan. 2008
Suspension of the fiber mode-cleaner launcher and measurement of the high extinction-ratio (10^{-9}) ellipsometer for the Q & A experiment
The Q & A experiment, first proposed and started in 1994, provides a feasible
way of exploring the quantum vacuum through the detection of vacuum
birefringence effect generated by QED loop diagram and the detection of the
polarization rotation effect generated by photon-interacting (pseudo-)scalar
particles. Three main parts of the experiment are: (1) Optics System (including
associated Electronic System) based on a suspended 3.5-m high finesse
Fabry-Perot cavity, (2) Ellipsometer using ultra-high extinction-ratio
polarizer and analyzer, and (3) Magnetic Field Modulation System for generating
the birefringence and the polarization rotation effect. In 2002, the Q & A
experiment achieved the Phase I sensitivity goal. During Phase II, we set (i)
to improve the control system of the cavity mirrors for suppressing the
relative motion noise, (ii) to enhance the birefringence signal by setting-up a
60-cm long 2.3 T transverse permanent magnet rotatable to 10 rev/s, (iii) to
reduce geometrical noise by inserting a polarization-maintaining optical fiber
(PM fiber) as a mode cleaner, and (iv) to use ultra-high extinction-ratio
(10^{-9}) polarizer and analyzer for ellipsometry. Here we report on (iii) &
(iv); specifically, we present the properties of the PM-fiber mode-cleaner, the
transfer function of its suspension system, and the result of our measurement
of high extinction-ratio polarizer and analyzer.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, presented in the 6th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on
Gravitational Waves, Okinawa, Japan, June 2005, and accepted by "Journal of
Physics: Conference Series". Modifications from version 2 were made based on
the referees' comments on figures. Ref. [31] were update
Non-minimal coupling of photons and axions
We establish a new self-consistent system of equations accounting for a
non-minimal interaction of gravitational, electromagnetic and axion fields. The
procedure is based on a non-minimal extension of the standard
Einstein-Maxwell-axion action. The general properties of a ten-parameter family
of non-minimal linear models are discussed. We apply this theory to the models
with pp-wave symmetry and consider propagation of electromagnetic waves
non-minimally coupled to the gravitational and axion fields. We focus on exact
solutions of electrodynamic equations, which describe quasi-minimal and
non-minimal optical activity induced by the axion field. We also discuss
empirical constraints on coupling parameters from astrophysical birefringence
and polarization rotation observations.Comment: 31 pages, 2 Tables; replaced with the final version published in
Classical and Quantum Gravit
Ellipsometry noise spectrum, suspension transfer function measurement and closed-loop control of the suspension system in the Q & A experiment
The Q & A experiment, aiming at the detection of vacuum birefringence
predicted by quantum electrodynamics, consists mainly of a suspended 3.5 m
Fabry-Perot cavity, a rotating permanent dipole magnet and an ellipsometer. The
2.3 T magnet can rotate up to 10 rev/s, introducing an ellipticity signal at
twice the rotation frequency. The X-pendulum gives a good isolation ratio for
seismic noise above its main resonant frequency 0.3 Hz. At present, the
ellipsometry noise decreases with frequency, from 1*10^{-5} rad Hz^{-1/2} at 5
Hz, 2*10^{-6} rad Hz^{-1/2} at 20 Hz to 5*10^{-7} rad Hz^{-1/2} at 40 Hz. The
shape of the noise spectrum indicates possible improvement can be made by
further reducing the movement between the cavity mirrors. From the preliminary
result of yaw motion alignment control, it can be seen that some peaks due to
yaw motion of the cavity mirror was suppressed. In this paper, we first give a
schematic view of the Q & A experiment, and then present the measurement of
transfer function of the compound X-pendulum-double pendulum suspension. A
closed-loop control was carried out to verify the validity of the measured
transfer functions. The ellipsometry noise spectra with and without yaw
alignment control and the newest improvement is presented.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, presented in 6th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on
Gravitational Waves, June 2005, Okinawa Japan and submitted to Journal of
Physics: Conference Series. Some modifications are made according to the
referee's comments: mainly to explain the relation between the displacement
of cavity mirror and the ellipticity noise spectru
Extended axion electrodynamics: Optical activity induced by nonstationary dark matter
We establish a new self-consistent Einstein-Maxwell-axion model based on the
Lagrangian, which is linear in the pseudoscalar (axion) field and its
four-gradient and includes the four-vector of macroscopic velocity of the axion
system as a whole. We consider extended equations of the axion electrodynamics,
modified gravity field equations, and discuss nonstationary effects in the
phenomenon of optical activity induced by axions.Comment: 6 pages, 0 figures, accepted for publication in the Journal
Gravitation and Cosmology, reported at the 14th Russian Gravitational
Conference (Ulyanovsk, 2011
Single Crystal Growth and Characterization of the Iron-Based Superconductor KFe2As2 Synthesized by KAs Flux Method
Centimeter sized platelet single crystals of KFe2As2 were grown using a
self-flux method. An encapsulation technique using commercial stainless steel
container allowed the stable crystal growth lasting for more than 2 weeks.
Ternary K-Fe-As systems with various starting compositions were examined to
determine the optimal growth conditions. Employment of KAs flux led to the
growth of large single crystals with the typical size of as large as 15 mm x 10
mm x 0.4 mm. The grown crystals exhibit sharp superconducting transition at 3.4
K with the transition width 0.2 K, as well as the very large residual
resistivity ratio exceeding 450, evidencing the good sample quality.Comment: 4 pages, 6 Postscript figure
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