Standard-Model Extension Constraints on Lorentz and CPT Violation From Optical Polarimetry of Active Galactic Nuclei. (arXiv:1906.07301v1 [astro-ph.HE])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Friedman_A/0/1/0/all/0/1">Andrew S. Friedman</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Leon_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">David Leon</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Gerasimov_R/0/1/0/all/0/1">Roman Gerasimov</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Crowley_K/0/1/0/all/0/1">Kevin D. Crowley</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Broudy_I/0/1/0/all/0/1">Isaac Broudy</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Melkani_Y/0/1/0/all/0/1">Yash Melkani</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Stephens_W/0/1/0/all/0/1">Walker Stephens</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Johnson_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">Delwin Johnson</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Teply_G/0/1/0/all/0/1">Grant Teply</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Tytler_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">David Tytler</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Keating_B/0/1/0/all/0/1">Brian G. Keating</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Cole_G/0/1/0/all/0/1">Gary M. Cole</a>
Vacuum birefringent effects from Lorentz and CPT violation in the
Standard-Model Extension (SME) can be constrained using ground-based optical
polarimetry of extragalactic sources. We describe results from a pilot program
with an automated system that can perform simultaneous optical polarimetry in
multiple passbands on different small telescopes with an effective 0.45-m
aperture. Despite the limited collecting area, our polarization measurements of
Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) using a wider effective optical passband than
previous studies yielded individual line-of-sight constraints for SME mass
dimension $d=5$ models that were within a factor of ~1-10 of comparable
broadband polarimetric constraints obtained using data from a 3.6-m telescope
with ~64 times the collecting area. To constrain more general anisotropic SME
models with higher mass dimensions d, we would require many more AGN along
different lines of sight. This motivates a future dedicated ground-based,
multi-band, optical polarimetry AGN survey with 1-m class telescopes, to obtain
state-of-the-art anisotropic SME $d=4,5,6$ model constraints, while also using
complementary archival polarimetry. This could happen more quickly and cost
effectively than via spectropolarimetry, and long before more competitive
constraints from space- or balloon-based x-ray/$gamma$-ray polarization
measurements.
Vacuum birefringent effects from Lorentz and CPT violation in the
Standard-Model Extension (SME) can be constrained using ground-based optical
polarimetry of extragalactic sources. We describe results from a pilot program
with an automated system that can perform simultaneous optical polarimetry in
multiple passbands on different small telescopes with an effective 0.45-m
aperture. Despite the limited collecting area, our polarization measurements of
Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) using a wider effective optical passband than
previous studies yielded individual line-of-sight constraints for SME mass
dimension $d=5$ models that were within a factor of ~1-10 of comparable
broadband polarimetric constraints obtained using data from a 3.6-m telescope
with ~64 times the collecting area. To constrain more general anisotropic SME
models with higher mass dimensions d, we would require many more AGN along
different lines of sight. This motivates a future dedicated ground-based,
multi-band, optical polarimetry AGN survey with 1-m class telescopes, to obtain
state-of-the-art anisotropic SME $d=4,5,6$ model constraints, while also using
complementary archival polarimetry. This could happen more quickly and cost
effectively than via spectropolarimetry, and long before more competitive
constraints from space- or balloon-based x-ray/$gamma$-ray polarization
measurements.
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