Cosmic Polarization Rotation: an Astrophysical Test of Fundamental Physics
Cosmic Polarization Rotation: an Astrophysical Test of Fundamental Physics
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DOI：
10.1142/s0218271815300165
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发表时间：
2015-01
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通讯作者：
S. D. Alighieri
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作者：
S. D. Alighieri
对基本物理原理的可能违反，例如所有引力的度量理论（包括广义相对论（GR））所基于的爱因斯坦等效原理，将导致在宇宙学距离上传播的线性偏振辐射的偏振平面的旋转，即所谓的宇宙偏振旋转（CPR）。我们在这里回顾迄今为止进行的天体物理学测试，以检查CPR是否存在。这些都是利用射电星系的射电和紫外偏振以及宇宙微波背景的偏振（E模式和B模式）。到目前为止，这些测试都是负面的，导致任何CPR角度的上限为一度，从而增加了我们对这些物理原理的信心，包括GR。我们还讨论了未来的前景，在检测CPR或改善对它的限制。
Possible violations of fundamental physical principles, e.g. the Einstein equivalence prin- ciple on which all metric theories of gravity are based, including general relativity (GR), would lead to a rotation of the plane of polarization for linearly polarized radiation traveling over cosmological distances, the so-called cosmic polarization rotation (CPR). We review here the astrophysical tests which have been carried out so far to check if CPR exists. These are using the radio and ultraviolet polarization of radio galaxies and the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (both E-mode and B-mode). These tests so far have been negative, leading to upper limits of the order of one degree on any CPR angle, thereby increasing our confidence in those physical principles, including GR. We also discuss future prospects in detecting CPR or improving the constraints on it.