Fundamental physics in space with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

TL;DR

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has provided groundbreaking observations of high-energy gamma rays, enabling new insights into exotic astrophysical phenomena and fundamental physics, including tests of Lorentz invariance.

Contribution

This paper offers an overview of Fermi's key scientific achievements related to fundamental physics, highlighting new observational capabilities and their implications.

Findings

Detection of gamma-ray signals indicating new physics

Constraints on Lorentz invariance violations from gamma-ray observations

Identification of exotic astrophysical objects in gamma-ray data

Abstract

Successfully launched in June 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, formerly named GLAST, has been observing the high-energy gamma-ray sky with unprecedented sensitivity for more than two years, opening a new window on a wide variety of exotic astrophysical objects. This paper is a short overview of the main science highlights, aimed at non-specialists, with emphasis on those which are more directly connected with the study of fundamental physics---particularly the search for signals of new physics in the diffuse gamma-ray emission and in the cosmic radiation and the study of Gamma-Ray Burst as laboratories for testing possible violations of the Lorentz invariance.