Direct terrestrial test of Lorentz symmetry in electrodynamics to 10−18

Moritz Nagel, Stephen R. Parker (), Evgeny V. Kovalchuk, Paul L. Stanwix, John G. Hartnett, Eugene N. Ivanov, Achim Peters and Michael E. Tobar
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Moritz Nagel: Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Stephen R. Parker: School of Physics, The University of Western Australia
Evgeny V. Kovalchuk: Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Paul L. Stanwix: School of Physics, The University of Western Australia
John G. Hartnett: School of Physics, The University of Western Australia
Eugene N. Ivanov: School of Physics, The University of Western Australia
Achim Peters: Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Michael E. Tobar: School of Physics, The University of Western Australia

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Lorentz symmetry is a foundational property of modern physics, underlying the standard model of particles and general relativity. It is anticipated that these two theories are low-energy approximations of a single theory that is unified and consistent at the Planck scale. Many unifying proposals allow Lorentz symmetry to be broken, with observable effects appearing at Planck-suppressed levels; thus, precision tests of Lorentz invariance are needed to assess and guide theoretical efforts. Here we use ultrastable oscillator frequency sources to perform a modern Michelson–Morley experiment and make the most precise direct terrestrial test to date of Lorentz symmetry for the photon, constraining Lorentz violating orientation-dependent relative frequency changes Δν/ν to 9.2±10.7 × 10−19 (95% confidence interval). This order of magnitude improvement over previous Michelson–Morley experiments allows us to set comprehensive simultaneous bounds on nine boost and rotation anisotropies of the speed of light, finding no significant violations of Lorentz symmetry.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9174

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