Speaker: Prof. Bo-Qiang Ma 马伯强 教授 (Peking U. 北京大学)

Title: Light-speed variation from gamma ray bursts

Abstract:
It is postulated in Einstein's relativity that the speed of light in vacuum is a constant for all observers. However, the effect of quantum gravity could bring an energy dependence of light speed. Even a tiny speed variation, when amplified by the cosmological distance, may be revealed by the observed time lags between photons with different energies from astrophysical sources. Through an analysis of the energetic photon data of the gamma ray bursts, we reveal a surprising regularity to suggest a linear form correction of the light speed  in cosmological space. From the newly detected long gamma ray burst GRB160509A, we find evidence to support our prediction for a light speed variation.

Time: Nov 10 (Thu) 4:00pm

Venue: Physics building 103, SCU