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Testing special relativity using slow light

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 21:56 authored by Benjamin Varcoe
Violations of Lorentz invariance in the form of a frame dependence of the speed of light is forbidden by most of modern physics. However, this law is increasingly coming under pressure from theories such as string theory and theories of quantum gravity, which predict violations of Lorentz invariance at some level. This paper presents a concept for a Lorentz invariance test using electromagnetically induced transparency, which, in combination with an effect known as Fresnel drag, can amplify the effect of variations of the speed of light. It is shown how a model apparatus could, in principle, be used to search for frame dependencies in the speed of light to a sensitivity of a part in 10 21 . It is shown that, counter-intuitively, in testing relativistic time dilation, the speed of the particle is not the most important feature and that the test can be performed for relatively small velocities.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Contemporary Physics

ISSN

0010-7514

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Issue

1

Volume

47

Page range

25-32

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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