Testing Nonclassical Theories of Electromagnetism with Ion Interferometry

Journal Article · Fri Nov 16 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.99.200401· OSTI ID:21024457

Neyenhuis, B; Christensen, D; Durfee, D S ^[1]

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1. Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Provo, Utah 84602 (United States)

We discuss using a tabletop ion interferometer to search for deviations from Coulomb's inverse-square law. Such deviations would result from nonclassical effects such as a nonzero photon rest mass. We discuss the theory behind the proposed measurement, explain which fundamental, experimentally controllable parameters are the relevant figures of merit, and calculate the expected performance of such a device in terms of these parameters. The sensitivity to deviations in the exponent of the inverse-square law is predicted to be a few times 10{sup -22}, an improvement by 5 orders of magnitude over current experiments. It could measure a nonzero photon rest mass smaller than 9x10{sup -50} grams, nearly 100 times smaller than current laboratory experiments.

• OSTI ID: 21024457
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 99, Issue 20; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.200401; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTROMAGNETISM
INTERFEROMETERS
INTERFEROMETRY
IONS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTONS
REST MASS
SENSITIVITY