Relating the Proca photon mass and cosmic vector potential via solar wind

Area of Science:

• Astrophysics and Plasma Physics
• Cosmic Electrodynamics

Background:

• The standard model of particle physics assumes photons are massless.
• Deviations from this, such as a massive photon (Proca theory), could have observable cosmological consequences.
• The solar wind's dynamics are influenced by electromagnetic fields and plasma properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of a massive photon and cosmic vector potential on solar wind dynamics.
• To establish observational constraints on the product of cosmic vector potential and squared photon mass.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of solar wind flow under the influence of Proca electromagnetism.
• Comparison of model predictions with observational data of solar wind structure at approximately 40 AU.

Main Results:

• A significant alteration of the solar wind structure is predicted for large values of the parameter A(C)m(ph)^2.
• The absence of observed deviations in the solar wind flow provides an upper bound for A(C)m(ph)^2.
• This upper bound is 9 orders of magnitude smaller than limits derived from laboratory experiments.

Conclusions:

• Observational data of the solar wind impose stringent constraints on the Proca photon mass and cosmic vector potential.
• The universe's electromagnetic properties are constrained by solar wind dynamics, ruling out certain theoretical parameter spaces.