Search for anisotropic light propagation as a function of laser beam alignment relative to the Earth's velocity vector

TL;DR

This experiment investigates whether light propagation in air exhibits anisotropy related to Earth's velocity, finding a measurable deviation from special relativity predictions, suggesting possible new physics or effects.

Contribution

The study introduces a simple, reproducible laser diffraction method to detect anisotropic light propagation related to Earth's motion, revealing deviations from special relativity.

Findings

Detected a first-order anisotropic effect in light propagation related to Earth's motion.

Measured a deviation parameter a=-0.4106±0.0225, differing from the isotropic value -0.5.

Results suggest a potential anisotropy in light speed not fully explained by current theory.

Abstract

A laser diffraction experiment was conducted to study light propagation in air. The experiment is easy to reproduce and it is based on simple optical principles. Two optical sensors (segmented photo-diodes) are used for measuring the position of diffracted light spots with a precision better than $0.1 \mu m$. The goal is to look for signals of anisotropic light propagation as function of the laser beam alignment to the Earth's motion (solar barycenter motion) obtained by COBE. Two raster search techniques have been used. First, a fixed laser beam in the laboratory frame that scans due to Earth's rotation. Second, an active rotation of the laser beam on a turntable system. The results obtained with both methods show that the course of the light rays are affected by the motion of the Earth, and a predominant quantity of first order with a $\Delta c/c=-\beta (1+2a)\cos \theta$ signature with $a=-0.4106\pm 0.0225$ describes well the experimental results. This result differs in a amount of 18% from the Special Relativity Theory prediction and that supplies the value of $a=-1/2$ (isotropy).