Possible measurable effects of light propagating in electromagnetized vacuum, as predicted by a scalar tensor theory of gravitation

TL;DR

This paper investigates how static electromagnetic fields influence light propagation in a vacuum within scalar-tensor gravity theories, predicting detectable amplitude variations that could be observed in laboratory experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of electromagnetic effects on light in scalar-tensor gravity, suggesting measurable amplitude variations in laboratory settings.

Findings

Electromagnetic fields cause detectable amplitude variations in light.

Certain field configurations and polarizations enhance the effect.

Potential for laboratory experiments to test scalar-tensor gravity predictions.

Abstract

The effect of static electromagnetic fields on the propagation of light is analyzed in the context of a particular class of scalar-tensor gravitational theories. It is found that for appropriate field configurations and light polarization, anomalous amplitude variations of the light as it propagates in either a magnetized or electrified vacuum are strong enough to be detectable in relatively simple laboratory experiments.