Bounds on Spectral Dispersion from Fermi-Detected Gamma Ray Bursts

Robert J. Nemiroff, Ryan Connolly, Justin Holmes, and Alexander B. Kostinski
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 231103 – Published 8 June 2012

Abstract

Data from four Fermi-detected gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are used to set limits on spectral dispersion of electromagnetic radiation across the Universe. The analysis focuses on photons recorded above 1 GeV for Fermi-detected GRB 080916C, GRB 090510A, GRB 090902B, and GRB 090926A because these high-energy photons yield the tightest bounds on light dispersion. It is shown that significant photon bunches in GRB 090510A, possibly classic GRB pulses, are remarkably brief, an order of magnitude shorter in duration than any previously claimed temporal feature in this energy range. Although conceivably a>3σ fluctuation, when taken at face value, these pulses lead to an order of magnitude tightening of prior limits on photon dispersion. Bound of Δc/c<6.94×1021 is thus obtained. Given generic dispersion relations where the time delay is proportional to the photon energy to the first or second power, the most stringent limits on the dispersion strengths were k1<1.61×105secGpc1GeV1 and k2<3.57×107secGpc1GeV2, respectively. Such limits constrain dispersive effects created, for example, by the spacetime foam of quantum gravity. In the context of quantum gravity, our bounds set M1c2 greater than 525 times the Planck mass, suggesting that spacetime is smooth at energies near and slightly above the Planck mass.

  • Figure
  • Received 23 September 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.231103

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Robert J. Nemiroff, Ryan Connolly, Justin Holmes, and Alexander B. Kostinski

  • Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 23 — 8 June 2012

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