Testing Lorentz symmetry of special relativity by means of the Virgo or Ligo set-up, through the differential measure of the two orthogonal beams time-of-flight

G. Sardin

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Testing Lorentz symmetry of special relativity by means of the Virgo or Ligo set-up, through the differential measure of the two orthogonal beams time-of-flight

G. Sardin

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Abstract

A novel experiment to test special relativity via Lorentz symmetry has become factible thanks to three recent technological achievements: huge Michelson-like set-up with arms 3 km long (Virgo) and 4 km (Ligo) with beam paths respectively reaching 120 km and 200 km through multiple reflections, ultrashort laser pulses of 10-15 s and ultrafast detectors of 10-12 s resolution. The alliance of these three elements would allow checking the equality of the time-of-flight of the two orthogonal beams with a resolution high enough to allow prospecting in a novel way the equivalency of inertial system postulated in special relativity. In effect, for a beam path length of 120 or 200 km and a net drift velocity of earth of 370 km/s relative to the cosmic microwave background CMB), a classical analysis predicts a time-of-flight difference of the order of 10 ns between the two orthogonal beams, while relativity infers them to be equal. So, what is under scrutiny is the exhaustivity of the electromagnetic equivalency of inertial systems. A null time-of-flight difference would strengthen the Lorentz symmetry, while a non null result would bring a threshold to the equivalency of inertial systems and at the same time would provide a tool to define their speed, which should be equal to that relative to the CMB for being congruent.

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G. Sardin. 2004-04-25. Testing Lorentz symmetry of special relativity by means of the Virgo or Ligo set-up, through the differential measure of the two orthogonal beams time-of-flight. https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0404116

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