Comment on Modified photon equation of motion as a test for the principle of equivalence''

Journal Article · Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.46.871· OSTI ID:7106099

Nityananda, R ^[1]

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1. Raman Research Institute, Bangalore 560 080 (India)

In a recent paper, a modification of the geodesic equation was proposed for spinning photons containing a spin-curvature coupling term. The difference in arrival times of opposite circular polarizations starting simultaneously from a source was computed, obtaining a result linear in the coupling parameter. It is pointed out here that this linear term violates causality and, more generally, Fermat's principle, implying calculational errors. Even if these are corrected, there is a violation of covariance in the way the photon spin was introduced. Rectifying this makes the effect computed vanish entirely.

• OSTI ID: 7106099
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States), Vol. 46:2; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
PHOTONS
EQUIVALENCE PRINCIPLE
CAUSALITY
COUPLING CONSTANTS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
FERMAT PRINCIPLE
GEODESICS
POLARIZATION
SPACE-TIME
SPIN
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
BOSONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
662440* - Properties of Other Particles Including Hypothetical Particles- (1992-)