Astrophysical upper limits on photon rest mass

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

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Astrophysics, Crab Nebula, Magellanic Clouds, Magnetoacoustic Waves, Particle Mass, Photons, Galaxies, Interstellar Gas, Magnetic Effects, Poisson Equation, Wave Propagation

Scientific paper

A brief review is given of the main ideas and methods presently being used to obtain upper limits on the photon rest mass from astrophysical data. One of the methods examined is based on the concept that if the photon rest mass is nonzero, then magnetosonic waves cannot propagate at a frequency less than some critical value that is a function of the rest mass. It is noted that an upper limit which is substantially better than any value established under terrestrial conditions has been obtained by interpreting wisps in the Crab Nebula as magnetosonic waves of extremely low frequency. Another method is evaluated which considers the contribution of galactic magnetic-field energy to the mass of the Galaxy in terms of gravitational effects; reasons why this method cannot be correct are discussed. It is shown that the most rigorous upper limit on photon rest mass was determined by analyzing the mechanical stability of magnetized gas in galaxies, allowing for specific pressure forces of the magnetic vector potential.

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