Is There Evidence for Cosmic Anisotropy in the Polarization of Distant Radio Sources?

Sean M. Carroll and George B. Field
Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 2394 – Published 29 September 1997
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Abstract

Measurements of the polarization angle and orientation of cosmological radio sources may be used to search for unusual effects in the propagation of light through the Universe. Recently, Nodland and Ralston [Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 3043 (1997)] have claimed to find evidence for a redshift- and direction-dependent rotation effect in existing data. We reexamine these data and argue that there is no statistically significant signal present. We are able to place stringent limits on hypothetical chiral interactions of photons propagating through spacetime.

  • Received 20 May 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.2394

©1997 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Sean M. Carroll1 and George B. Field2

  • 1Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
  • 2Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

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Vol. 79, Iss. 13 — 29 September 1997

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